The 19-year-old and a friend were walking a short distance to his home on Mitre Street. 

The robbery took place at around 10.45pm when the attacker stopped the boys to ask for a cigarette and a light. 

Yesterday, the young man’s father said his son was still shaken by the incident.

The man said he dropped his son off at a friend’s house in Mitre Street and they walked home together. 

When he felt the walk was taking longer than it should, the man got in the car and went looking for them.

He arrived just after the robbery had taken place, and called police.

It is alleged the man pulled a knife on the 19-year-old, demanding his cigarettes, wallet and phone. 

He pushed the young man into a tree, pressing the knife into his arm until it punctured the skin. The young man handed over his phone. 

The assailant then held the knife to the young man’s throat and demanded that he take off the code which locks the phone. 

The assailant walked off, taking the phone, but leaving the wallet and cigarettes behind. 

When the young man’s father arrived on the scene he contacted police before going to the station to give a statement. 

“My son was very rattled. He just couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“It’s a quiet neighbourhood. We’ve never had any problems before.

“Neither my son or his friend are small men, but when the knife came out, he just handed over the phone.”

He said the robbery occurred near the Assumption School. 

“I think people need to know it’s not safe to be out on the street at night in that area,” he said.

Inspector Mark Wall of Chifley Local Area Command said the attacker is described as being about 1.8 metres (six foot) tall and thin. He was wearing dark jeans, a grey, long sleeved jumper with white writing and a white baseball cap.

Inspector Wall said the person of interest walked off in the direction of Lambert Street.

Police arrived a short time later and conducted a patrol of the area, but were unable to locate the offender.

Police are seeking information from the public about the robbery.