A spate of violent crime on the streets of Oamaru this month is unusual, police say.
Three separate incidents of "serious violence" have occurred throughout the town, including a woman being knocked unconscious at the Centennial Park carpark.
Last weekend a man was assaulted on Thames Highway and this week a man was attacked inside The Oamaru Charity Shop in Coquet St.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said the level of crime over such a short period was not typical in the district.
"It is unusual to have three incidents of serious violence in Oamaru like this. None of them are linked but they have all have ended up with people requiring medical treatment," he said.
Sgt Woodbridge said last Saturday night an 18-year-old man was assaulted on Thames Highway by two other youths.
The incident happened after a party, he said.
"The victim was allegedly held on the ground and punched multiple times and ended up with concussion and a broken nose.
"It left a young victim in Oamaru Hospital most of Sunday and then he was transported to Dunedin Hospital for further examination.
"It’s serious violence on the street, alcohol-fuelled, which is not acceptable." he said.
An 18-year-old male was arrested and charged with injuring with intent to injure, and yesterday a 20-year-old male was also arrested.
Both will be jointly charged and will appear in the Oamaru Youth Court on Wednesday.
The police have two suspects and are following "strong lines of inquiry" on an assault of a 47-year-old Queenstown man in The Oamaru Charity Shop two days ago.
Police were reviewing footage of the incident and the suspected offenders were known to them, Sgt Woodbridge said.
The man received medical treatment at Oamaru Hospital and was released a short time later with moderate injuries, he said.
Police say Oamaru man Tanera Malachi Otene, 27, last week went on a "horrific" crime spree.
Sgt Woodbridge said the alleged offences included three separate assaults, in Queens Cres, Thames Highway and the Centennial Park carpark.
Video footage of the carpark incident, received by police, showed a female getting punched twice and knocked to the ground with bystanders nearby, he said.
Otene appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week on three charges of assault with intent to injure, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and two charges of burglary.
He was remanded in custody.
Sgt Woodbridge said the investigation was being reviewed and monitored by the Criminal Investigation Branch.
There was no place for violence in the community, and the community had no tolerance for it either, Sgt Woodbridge said.
