Police are searching for separate groups of offenders who carried out a pair of violent street robberies in central Wellington last night.
A man in his 20s was walking near the waterfront at Te Papa about 11.15pm when he was robbed by five men.
Acting Detective Sergeant Sam Mercer said the man was initially approached by a teenager who asked him for a cigarette.
The teen was then joined by four other men who surrounded the victim before one punched him to the ground, he said.
"In a cowardly attack, all five offenders then kicked and punched the victim while he was on the ground, robbing him of his puffer jacket, wallet, iPod and passport."
About five minutes later another man in his 20s was walking up Boulcott Street when he was knocked to the ground by two men and robbed about 11.20pm.
Bystanders and came to the victim's aid.
The offenders were believed to have followed the man from nearby Manners St, Mr Mercer said.
"The two robberies were reported as occurring at the same time in different locations, and the offender descriptions differ. While we are keeping an open mind about the offenders, the crimes do not appear to be linked at this stage," he said.
