A TEENAGER was threatened at knifepoint as he was ambushed by a group and had his bike stolen.

Essex Police have launched an investigation into the robbery, during which the boy was threatened with what police believe was a knife.

The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was in Queens Road, Southend, at around 6.30pm on Monday, when he was approached by a large group of boys.

One of the boys demanded the teenager’s light bronze coloured Carrera push bike and then threatened him with what was believed to be a knife.

The victim has described the boy who threatened him as being Indian looking, around 6ft tall and was wearing a black hooded top.

Having stolen the bike from the victim, the man threatened the boy again.

He then fled the scene in the direction of the seafront, along with the rest of the group.

The teenager was not harmed but was understandably left shaken by the incident.

This the latest in a long string of knife point incidents which are causing concern amongst residents in Southend.

Just last week the Echo reported on residents calls for tougher sentences for knife crime after a 16-year-old suffered serious injuries in a Central Avenue stabbing last Wednesday.

The incidents come just two months after 19-year-old Fabian Kacica was fatally stabbed in The Forum, Southend.

Witnesses, anyone with information or anyone who saw a group of men in the area at the time, with what may have been a Carrera push bike, are asked to contact Southend CID on 101 quoting reference 42/101718/18.

Information can also be given to the independent charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Or information can be reported online, totally anonymously, at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously