Grandfather recalls brutal beating in terrifying attempted armed robbery at Bunbury Speedway
A Perth grandfather has spoken out about his terrifying experience being brutally bashed by three armed robbers, in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.
The 60-year-old, who does not want to be named, was preyed upon by three masked men armed with guns and a baseball bat when he was leaving a racing event in the state’s South West early on Sunday.
The victim had gone to watch his sons race at the Krikke Boys Shootout at Bunbury Speedway on Saturday night – a ritual he had done many times before as a well-known member of the speedway community.
He was then ambushed by the attackers when he was leaving around 12.30am.
“I went to start (the car), heard the back door open and there’s a guy standing there with a rifle,” he said on Wednesday.
“He said ‘where’s the money, c***?’ and I said what money and he said it again.”
Then the driver’s car door opens and the victim was face-to-face with two other men, one of whom was armed with a gun.
“I jumped out of the car and took a swipe at it and I got hit in the head, I believe it was a baseball bat … I went down,” he said.
The masked offenders ripped the grandfather’s shirt over his head as they attacked him.
“I took my shirt off then and kept trying to lunge to grab the bat … I just kept getting hit,” he said.
“From there I was pretty much oblivious other than trying to get back on my feet.”
The one though running through his head: “Get on your feet and get this guy.”
“I kept thinking, have I been shot?”
The terrifying attack left the 60-year-old covered in blood, nursing a broken nose, split lip, bruising to his face and requiring staples in his head.
But he says it could have been worse.
“My biggest fear is somebody else could have been hurt,” he said.
“Quite often my wife comes to the speedway with me, I hate to think what could’ve happened there.”
Mistaken identity
Police believe the botched robbery was a case of mistaken identity, with the thugs instead intending to target the staff member responsible for transporting cash at the end of the event.
“We believe the actual victim is a victim of mistaken identity,” Bunbury Detective Sergeant Robert Martin said on Tuesday.
“We believe that a particular person is responsible for taking away any cash that might have been collected during the evening.
“We believe that person was most likely been the target of the attack.
“(He) was a very similar build and description to the actual victim himself.”
A popular night among the racing community, the Krikke Boys Shootout attracts flocks of spectators to watch the show.
“It’s a major event, there was a huge crowd,” the victim said.
“I think someone had an opportunity to do something that was not quite right.”
Police are still hunting the three offenders and are asking to speak to anyone in the area at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.
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Grandfather recalls brutal beating in terrifying attempted armed robbery at Bunbury Speedway
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