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Six males wielding baseball bats have carried out a terrifying carjacking on a man driving a luxury car in Melbourne's inner suburbs.
The alleged victim spoke about his terrifying experience on Facebook in a post that has been shared more than 4000 times.
Avondale Heights man Michael Tallal, 29, pulled over his Mercedes on Toorak Road in Toorak at 2am on Monday after his car was hit from behind by another car, believed to be a grey Nissan.
When Mr Tallal got out of his car to speak with the men, he was attacked and hit on the head with a baseball bat, police said.
The group of men then demanded Mr Tallal's mobile phone before ordering him to hand over his car keys.
They then sped off in the Mercedes.
Mr Tallal said his glasses were smashed during the attack along with his watch, as he was attempting to shield his face.
He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
He said that police told him that the men responsible for the attack are members of a gang committing similar crimes all over Melbourne.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that they are investigating whether the men responsible for the armed robbery are part of the Apex gang, which is known to carry out similar crimes in Melbourne's south-east.
Mr Tallal also had some advice for anyone who finds themselves the victim of a potential carjacking.
"If you are driving and somebody "bumps" your car from behind, CALL THE POLICE before exiting your car," he wrote.
"The 'gang' is operating all over Melbourne so regardless of what area you are in, please be vigilant and take care."
Mr Tallal also said that when he was released from hospital he found out his car had been used for "numerous other crimes" in Cranbourne and Vermont South.
Police believe the same car was used in a home invasion and aggravated burglary in Cranbourne about 3.45am.
Police said a group of four or five men kicked in the front door of a Valencia Circuit house, from where they stole some items including a mobile phone.
An occupant of the house armed with a baseball bat then confronted the men, who fled in two getaway cars. The cars are believed to be a white sports car and a grey hatchback.
The men involved are perceived to be of African and Islander/Maori appearance.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said police had identified a spike in car-related crime in wealthier suburbs, where luxury cars such as BMWs and Mercedes were more likely to be parked in driveways.
"We haven't seen an increase in crime in those areas for some time," he said.
However while the Apex gang was being blamed for the recent rise in aggravated burglaries and carjackings, Assistant Commissioner Hill said this was not necessarily backed up by the figures.
He said that of the 70 people arrested through the taskforce set up to monitor Apex, only 26 were connected with the gang.
He said that the criminals responsible were often connected with a loosely networked group via social media.
"They don't have a clubhouse, they don't wear colours," he said. "This is a group of young people committing these offences."
Assistant Commissioner Hill rebuffed suggestions that the pursuit policy was stopping officers from apprehending offenders.
"Where someone is engaging in an aggravated burglary... clearly the policy allows our members to engage in pursuit," he said.
While Mr Tallal suggested that people in a crash should call the police before getting out of their vehicle, Assistant Commissioner Hill said everyone's circumstances were different.
He suggested people be aware of their surroundings before getting out of the car.
"Look in the rear vision mirror, how many people are in that car? What are they doing?," he said.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au