Police are calling for witnesses to two incidents in which women walking alone were targeted by offenders.

In the first incident police received a report from a 24-year-old woman who was assaulted in Daly Street just before 9pm on Thursday night. The woman told police she was walking near the corner of Mitchell and Daly Streets when she was approached by a man who asked her for cigarettes. When she refused he grabbed her by the hair pulling her to the ground and then stole her handbag and ran off towards Uncle Sams.

The victim told police the man was in his late teens, of Aboriginal appearance with a slim build and dark hair pulled back in a pony tail. He was wearing a dark-coloured t-shirt and possibly board shorts. He was accompanied by a female of Aboriginal appearance in her mid to late teens, solid build with dark curly hair tied in a pony tail.

Then in the early hours of Friday morning police received a report of another assault on a female - this time in Casuarina Drive, Nightcliff. The 20-year-old victim told police she was walking home from the Beachfront Hotel just before 1.30am when she was approached by a male asking for cigarettes. The male grabbed her by the hair and punched and slapped her when she fell to the ground. The man then stole the victim's cigarettes and fled back towards the hotel.

The offender is described as being of Aboriginal appearance, late teens or early 20s, slim build, approximately 180cm tall, with black hair tied back in a pony tail. He was wearing a reddish-coloured shirt with possibly a white shirt underneath, dark jeans and boots.

The victim told police he was accompanied by a woman who is described as being of Aboriginal appearance, mid to late teens, solid build, wearing a white shirt with frilly sleeves.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about either incident to phone 131 444 or Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
8951 8825
0419 803 603