A young driver was followed on the Eastern Freeway for about 20 kilometres by two thugs who forced him off the road, assaulted him with a gun and stole his luxury car in a “gutless attack”.
The 22-year-old victim was driving his 2018 Mercedes CLA200, with the registration AVN328, when he noticed he was being followed by a white Nissan SUV as he turned onto the Eastern Freeway from Ringwood about 2am on Thursday.
Police have released this image of a Mercedes, similar to the one that was stolen.Credit: Victoria Police
As he approached the Bulleen Road overpass, the SUV stopped abruptly in front of the victim, forcing him off the road, Acting Detective Sergeant Peter Dallan-Jones said.
“It’s a horrific event for the 22-year-old,” he said. “He’s extremely afraid, he’s an innocent victim, and it’s a gutless attack on a freeway.”
The offenders got out of their vehicle, approached the victim with a gun and demanded he get out of the car, before one of them assaulted the 22-year-old with the butt of the gun.
The two men then split up and jumped into the Nissan and the Mercedes and sped off towards the city, leaving the 22-year-old stranded on the freeway.
He flagged down a passerby and called police.
“He’s received some injures – more of a minor injury – but he has been treated in hospital and he’s received some stitches,” Acting Detective Sergeant Dallan-Jones said.
The offenders have been described as being stocky men in their 20s of Middle Eastern appearance.
Acting Detective Sergeant Dallan-Jones said police believed the attack was an isolated incident, but they were concerned the duo could strike again.
Police are appealing for anyone with information, especially CCTV or dash-cam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.