A teenager working at a KFC outlet in Melbourne has been punched in the face while shielding a customer from an assailant.
The 16-year-old worker stood in front of the customer - also a 16-year-old boy - who had run back into the fast food outlet after being attacked on the street.
The customer had just left the Greensborough KFC when he was pushed from behind by an unknown man about 10.30pm on Friday night.
The attacker followed the teen who fled into the store and demanded he hand over his mobile phone.
He then jumped the counter and punched the KFC worker in the face in a bid to get to the teen.
He wrestled with his first victim, snatched his phone and fled.
The KFC worker sustained minor injuries.
Police say the assaults could be linked to an attempted carjacking that happened nearby a few hours earlier.
A woman was in her car when a man opened her front passenger side door and got into the car.
She screamed and he fled after nearby motorists came to her aid.
