RESIDENTS living in a part of Basingstoke have been left in fear after two violent incidents within streets of each other in just over a week. 

In the first, on Thursday, January 12, between 8.56pm and 9.30pm, a 37-year-old man was walking on Highpath Way, in Rooksdown, when he was approached by two men who asked him for a lighter.

The men then started searching through the victim’s pockets, punched him in the head and abdomen. He was also stabbed.

The victim fell to the floor and the pair took £220 from him before leaving the scene.

In the second, on Thursday, January 20, at around 9.20pm, a 26-year-old man suffered serious injuries after five armed men with knives assaulted him in a parked car. The victim’s phone and car keys were stolen.

READ MORE: Basingstoke: Man suffers cut wounds as five men assault him in car

Some residents have been left fearing for their safety, saying that they are particularly nervous about going out in the evening.

One resident, who lives on Blackmoor Drive and asked not be named, said: “It’s certainly concerning. I regularly walk along Highpath Way with the dog and my little boy, and to think it could happen to anyone, so close to where we’re living, is quite daunting.

“It’s not something you want on your doorstep, so hopefully the police or whoever can do something to deter the crime that seems to be happening regularly in Basingstoke at the moment.”

Kirsty Gibson, 33, lives near where the incident on Blackmoor Drive took place. 

She said: “We heard all the commotion and looked out to see two men stood by a car shouting at each other. I think they were talking about a phone.

“Suddenly four more people appeared and just started attacking the man, before rummaging through the car, I’d guess for valuables. They were all wearing black, and their faces were covered. We rang the police and they were here not long after, but by then all of the men involved had run off.”

READ MORE: Basingstoke man stabbed and robbed by two males on Highpath Way

Kirsty continued: “It was horrible, standing here knowing we couldn’t really do anything to help. You get the odd bit of trouble around here, but nothing like this. We’ve been here since 2019 and this is the first time we’ve known of two incidents so close together.

“It does make you more nervous when it’s close to home. The street lighting around here isn’t very good, so it makes you wonder, if it was better, maybe it would deter the crime that’s happened around here over the last week or so. We go out in the evening with the dog and it does make me anxious, in light of what’s happened.”

Another woman, who asked to not be named, said: “It’s the last thing you expect to see when you look at the local news in the morning, particularly so close to home.

“It is a cause for concern that these incidents seem to be occurring more frequently. We love living in Rooksdown and have never before had any concerns for our safety. Now I would certainly be more vigilant when going out alone, especially in the evening.”

READ ALSO: Councillor calls for more police presence in Rooksdown after assaults

Other residents have called for better street lighting in the area, to hopefully deter further crimes from happening. 

Estate developer Barratt Homes said: "We have been made aware that there are some streetlights that have not been connected. We are about to begin new works onsite which will involve final changes to the street lights before they are handed over to the council, and are doing all we can to get them turned on as quickly as possible.”