Attacks reported on American Tobacco Trail

The first assault happened at about 6 p.m. on May 14 behind the Parkview Mini Mart in the 400 block of East Pilot Street, police said. A teen told officers that he and two friends were walking on the trail when several young men approached them and kicked and punched them. One person was treated for minor injuries.

The second assault occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Monday near Cana Street. A man told officers that he noticed six or seven young men loitering on a bridge, but he was able to outrun them when they tried to attack him.

A short time later, the same group of teens assaulted a jogger on the trail and took several items, police said.

The Durham Police Department has increased patrols in the area and recommended that people go on the trail in pairs, avoid groups that are loitering in the area and carry cellphones to report suspicious activity.

Anyone with information about the trail attacks is asked to call police at 919-560-4415, extension 29312, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.