UPDATE, Friday, 9am: A Koroit man, 34, is being charged with making a false report to police after claiming he was robbed and bashed at a Tower Hill lookout.
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August 1: A brazen daylight robber punched a victim in the face and stole his money after bumming a cigarette at Tower Hill on Tuesday.
A 34-year-old male victim was left badly shaken after he was approached by a man at the Cairn Lookout at Tower Hill about 4pm.
Police said the victim was driving home via the Princes Highway when he stopped to have a cigarette and use his mobile phone to play the game Pokémon Go.
It is alleged a white early 2000s Ford XR6 pulled up beside the victim and a male aged in his 20s got out and asked him for a cigarette.
He let the motor of his car running.
The victim reached into his car to get a cigarette and when he turned back the offender struck him to the left side of the face.
He pushed him up against the car before pulling the victim's wallet out of his back pocket.
The offender then removed the victim’s cash, threw away the wallet and drove away, watching the victim as he did.
Koroit police Sergeant Patrick Day said the victim was distressed.
“He was pretty upset and had sustained some redness and minor swelling to his face,” he said.
The offender is described as about 170cm tall with a large build and a shaved head. He was wearing a black hooded jumper and black track suit pants with a white stripe down the side.
Sergeant Day said police were investigating the incident.
“We don’t know if the victim has been targeted or it’s a random event but we are still making inquiries,” he said. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers.
