A Chelmsford man was punched to the floor and robbed of his iPhone whilst on a train between London and Essex.
The 35-year-old was travelling home after an evening out between December 13 and 14, and first boarded the train at Liverpool Street Station at 11pm, changed services and Brentwood and Shenfield before heading to Chelmsford.
At some point two men approached him, one punched him in the head causing swelling to his forehead and right eye, before they went through his pockets and stole his iPhone, cash and bank cards.
The victim is unsure which service the incident took place on, but investigators believe the violence used by the men would spark witnesses to come forward.
Officers are reviewing hours of CCTV from stations and trains travelling between the stations in the area and are urging anyone who approached the victim and witnessed the assault to come forward.
Investigating officer for British Transport Police (BTP) DC David Bishop said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a victim who was simply making his way home from an evening out with friends.
"He had his possessions stolen from his just weeks before Christmas and was left shaken and injured.
"If you have any information, please come forward and help detectives in this investigation."
Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting incident number B6/LNA of 31/12/2012, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
