Man robbed in second canal towpath attack in a month

Four schoolboys were arrested over reports that a man was attacked and robbed on a local canal towpath.

Police were called to Tiffield Road in Acocks Green, at around 2.40pm on Sunday after a hero passer-by rushed to help the alleged victim and dialled 999.

Two boys aged 15 and two of 16 were arrested in nearby Stockfield Road on suspicion of robbery after police dog teams launched a search.

The reported incident happened just 350 yards from the spot where an Olton dad was punched in the face and pushed into the canal on 15th January.

On that occasion, father-of-two Lee Skinner escaped by speaking to his attackers – believed to have been from the Pakistani community – in Arabic.

But West Midlands Police said the two incidents were not being linked.

Officers are now looking for Sunday’s alleged victim – who had his bag stolen – and the man who came to his aid.

Insp David Keen, from Birmingham’s Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “We would like to praise the member of the public who came to the aid of this man.

“But before officers could get to speak to him he had left the scene and we have no forwarding details for him.

“It is really important that he contacts us at his earliest opportunity so we can speak to him about the robbery.

“We need to make sure he is not injured and we need to establish what happened.

“We have arrested and bailed four people in connection with the incident but really need the victim to come forward.”

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