A GANG of teenagers viciously beat a man and then forced him to wait while they used his cashcard.

The violent mugging, which occurred at 9.40pm on Wednesday last week (Jan 30), precisely mirrors an incident that happened three weeks earlier.

The victim in the later incident was grabbed by the gang and forced into Southall Park, in Uxbridge Road. After punching and kicking him, they stole a cashcard and demanded his PIN, threatening him with more violence if he refused.

Once they had the information, four waited with him while two others took £220 from a cash machine. Also stolen was the 31-year-old victim's mobile phone and a gold chain valued at £500.

A 21-year-old man was beaten and then forced to wait with five assailants by the Grand Union Canal as two others took his bank cards and emptied his account on January 10.

Inspector Richard Giel said: "We are not linking these two incidents as of yet."

Information to 8810 1212.