Xavier and Ricky were catching a bus home after seeing a film at Werribee Plaza, but had to change buses at the train station. The youths, described as being of African appearance, allegedly followed the two friends off the 166 bus and surrounded them at the bus shelter next to the train station about 7pm, before two males attacked. Both teenagers were assaulted and Xavier's phone, airpods and a gold necklace he'd received for his birthday two weeks earlier were stolen. "Just after 7pm I got a call from Ricky and they just said they'd been jumped by a gang. The gang had come over to ask for the time and when Ricky pulled out his phone they demanded it," Mr Ferrari said. Anthony Ferrari claims PSOs did not intervene when he son was being attacked by 20-30 youths at Wyndham Vale train station. Credit:Rob Carew

"The boys said no at first and one punched Ricky in the side of the head. "They made Xavier empty his pockets and unlock his mobile phone's Apple ID and fingerprint technology. They're still in shock." Mr Ferrari claims the two PSOs later told him there was little they could do but call police. "When I was talking to the PSO officer on the phone I asked why they let this happen, why didn't they stop it, but he said you've got to understand there was two of us and 20 of them, what are we going to do," he said. "You teach your kids to stay in view of either the cameras or the PSOs, you think they should be safe."

Transit Inspector Andrew Gustke, however, moved to debunk suggestions the PSO's failed to intervene and said the officers had only just been approached by the first young victim when they became aware that another teen, his friend, was being attacked nearby. He said the two officers had been patrolling the below ground train station when commuters alerted them to the assault, which was happening a few hundred metres away. By the time they approached, the group of youths "scattered", he said. "The PSO's have done a fantastic job here, they've done exactly what they should do," Inspector Gustke said. "Whilst talking to this first victim it's our understanding that the second robbery was taking place.

"That was happening 20 to 30 metres away from where they were and they have not witnessed that and not been aware of it until there was a lot of yelling and screaming going on." Inspector Gustke assured the public that police were following a number of leads with CCTV cameras capturing images of the group. "I can assure people they have been seen and we will do everything in our power to bring them to justice," he said. Police are searching for two teenagers. One is described as being African in appearance, aged between 14 and 16, with a slim build and about 160 centimetres tall. At the time he was wearing a blue and red striped top, blue denim shorts, gold-coloured shoes and had a diamond stud in his left ear.

The second teen was also of African appearance and wearing a long sleeved black t-shirt. Police believe the large group had boarded the bus at Manor Lakes. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.