POLICE investigating an attempted knifepoint robbery in Tuffley Lane have not ruled out a link to a string of similar attacks.
A 25-year-old was punched and threatened with a blade in the early hours of yesterday.
It is the fifth attack involving knives in two weeks, but police have reassured the community this type of crime is still rare in Gloucester.
The latest victim was walking home to Quedgeley checking his mobile phone messages when he was targeted.
A light coloured van with three men in it drove up beside him at about 1am.
Two jumped out and punched the victim in the face, telling him to hand over his wallet and phone.
When he refused he was threatened with a four-inch blade by the men.
Police said there was a 'tussle' and the men ran off empty handed and jumped back in the van through a sliding door.
They drove off in the direction of Epney Road.
The victim suffered minor facial injuries from being punched.
Inspector Steve Chester said: "Investigations are still in the early stages so we haven't ruled in or out a link yet.
"This sort of thing is fortunately still quite rare in Gloucester and we will investigate it robustly."
The area has been searched and house-to-house inquiries have been made but they have not yielded any evidence.
Police are now appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.
The two men are described as white, between 20 and 35 years old, both of a small build and both wearing blue hoodies.
One is described as having a 'foreign' accent.
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting incident 42 of May 5.