4 Robbed by Night in Balboa Park

Four people were robbed in Balboa Park between midnight and 1:15 a.m. Thursday, and three of them are believed to be the victims of a roving group of young men, police said.

Three of the robbery victims were beaten by their assailants and one was stabbed, according to police Detective Terry DeGelder. Herbert Thompson, 38, was taken to Mercy Hospital with head injuries, where he was listed in fair condition Thursday night. Anna J. Fritch, 25, was beaten and bruised by the robbers in a separate incident but was not hospitalized.

A third man, whom police declined to identify, was robbed, then stabbed in the face and neck, DeGelder said. The victim was taken to Navy Hospital in Balboa Park.

Based on descriptions provided by the victims, police believe the same group of five or six young males was responsible for all three of those attacks, in which money and wallets were stolen from the victims.

A fourth victim was reportedly robbed by a hitchhiker he picked up, DeGelder said. Francisco Posada, 21, told police the hitchhiker beat him up, drove him to Balboa Park and dumped him there, then stole his car, DeGelder said.

Police searched the area, but no arrests were made.