POLICE have stepped up patrols around Greenhead Park after more robberies.

But they insisted there would not be a “no-go” area in the revamped park despite the crimes.

The most serious incident saw a robber armed with a snarling pit bull dog threaten a father as he walked his toddler through the park.

He challenged the terrified 25-year-old to “fight” the dog as the man strolled through Greenhead Park with his three-year-old son.

The incident was one of three robberies in or near the park at the weekend and one of four in the last three weeks.

But police insist there is no cause for alarm.

Sgt Mick Semenczuk, of Huddersfield North Neighbourhood Policing Team, who cover the park, said: “It would be wrong for people to think that Greenhead Park is a no-go area.”

The man and his young son were walking through the park at lunchtime on Friday when they were approached by a man armed with a red-nosed pit bull.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The victim refused to give the suspect anything but was threatened further by the suspect who also asked the 25-year old if he wanted to fight his dog.

“At this point, fearing for his safety, the 25-year old handed over his wallet.”

The robber was mixed race, aged about 18 and about 5ft 8ins tall and slim, with short black hair and stubble.

He was wearing a dark blue-green hooded top with green writing on the left shoulder and arm and dark grey jogging bottoms.

The dog was dark brown with a white patch over one eye and some white patches on its rear.

Contact Det Con Shaun Lewis at Huddersfield CID on 01484 436665 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Later on Friday, at about 11pm, two men aged 18 and 19 were in Trinity Street, opposite the Greenhead Pharmacy just outside the park, when three men shouted at them to stop.

The gang made them sit on a wall and threatened to attack them before stealing their mobile phones.

Two of the gang were white and one was Asian. They were in their early 20s.

In the third incident, at about 7pm on Sunday, a 14-year-old was with a friend near the park’s skate park when he was approached by two black teenage boys.

One of them asked him for £1 to call his mum, but the victim refused and started to walk off.

He was followed and grabbed from behind and had his pockets searched and his mobile phone stolen.

One of the robbers was about 5ft 7ins tall, of average build and wearing a black hooded top and black tracksuit bottoms.

The second suspect was shorter and wore a black T-shirt and bottoms. He called himself ‘Tyler’.

Witnesses to either of the second two robberies should contact Det Con Mick Cummings at Huddersfield CID on 01484 436665.

The weekend’s incidents come after a 35-year-old man was robbed by a knife-wielding gang on March 7.

Sgt Semenczuk added:

“Crime isn’t generally a problem in Greenhead Park, but it is a large space that attracts a lot of people, so unfortunately, some crime is inevitable.

“However, local officers regularly patrol the area and we have increased patrols in recent weeks as a result of the robberies that have taken place.

“We also work with the council’s park wardens, who have a regular presence in the park and help us tackle crime and anti-social behaviour issues.

“We would ask people to continue to use the park, but remain vigilant and report anything of concern to the police.”