TWO thugs held a blade to a man’s throat during the third knifepoint robbery to hit Basildon in two weeks.

A councillor claims a spate of knife-related crime is creating fear following the latest attack which happened in the underpass between Luncies Road and Pitsea Road, in Pitsea.

Keith Bobbin, Basildon councillor for Pitsea North West ward, said elderly and vulnerable residents would be particularly scared by news of another knife crime.

He said: “Even I would be worried to leave my front door because I wouldn’t be able to run away if anything happened.

“The vulnerable residents are going to feel very threatened by this.”

In the latest incident, a 21-year-old man was walking through the underpass when he was approached by two men, one white and the other black.

They ordered him to hand over his wallet and when the victim refused the black man pulled out a knife and held it to his neck.

While the terrified victim was being held, the other robber went through his pockets and stole his wallet.

Both attackers, who were wearing hoodies at the time, then fled the underpass towards Pitsea Road.

The attack follows two knifepoint burglaries, in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, on August 21, and one in Delvins, Basildon, on August 22.

There were also two stabbings last week, at the Craylands estate, in Basildon, on August 23, and outside Maydells Court care home, in Maydells, Pitsea, on August 24.

But the latest robbery, which took place at 10pm on Monday night, is not being connected with any of these incidents, which are being treated as targeted attacks.

Basildon police’s district commander, Chief Insp Rachel Wood, said: “I understand residents may be worried in light of recent events.

“But I would like to firmly reassure them that knife crime has significantly decreased since last year across Basildon and it remains a relatively safe place to live.

“We have stepped up patrols in all the affected areas and would ask residents to remain vigilant against anyone committing crime in their area.”