Police are baffled by the cowardly attack on the 24-year-old mum-to-be, who was returning from a friend’s house just a couple of streets from her own when the late-night attack occurred.

She was walking alone along Walsh St in Noble Park about 11.30pm Tuesday, when she was wolf-whistled at by a group of men in a Ford Falcon XR 6 sedan.

Panicked, the woman quickened her pace, but the vehicle did a U-turn and drove up behind her on Simpson St.

Four men wearing dark ski masks and armed with a baseball bat, a hammer and what appeared to be an axe, then jumped out of the car and walked up to the woman.

The offenders demanded the woman’s handbag and one of the men repeatedly swung a hammer at her.

Victoria Police spokesman Luke Zammit said the man swung the hammer three times.

“One blow struck her on the arm as she put her arms up to protect her head ... she sustained minor injuries,” he said.

“Her handbag was then snatched from her and the offenders got back into the car.”

The victim pleaded for her mobile phone back as she had ultrasound photos of her unborn child saved on the camera roll.

One of the offenders threw the phone to the ground before making their escape.

Two men remained in the front seats of the car during the attack.

The victim told police the car appeared to be lowered and sounded like it had a turbo engine.

Southern Metro Regional Crime Team detectives believe the incident may have been linked to an attempted carjacking in Huntingdale earlier that night.

A 25-year-old man told police a blue Ford Falcon G6 overtook him on Huntingdale Rd before breaking heavily and forcing him to stop opposite a locks factory about 11pm.

Three men then got out of the passenger doors of the Ford and approached the victim’s car armed with hammers.

The victim, who was travelling with a 26-year-old man, then put his car in reverse and the offenders ran back into their car.

The victim performed a U-turn and the Ford did the same, almost causing a crash.

The offenders continued to chase the victim who was travelling north on Huntingdale Rd.

The Ford then turned left onto Burlington St and the victim continued on Huntingdale Rd and onto the Princes Highway.

Two of the offenders are described as being 180cm tall, while the other is believed to be about 170cm tall.

All three men were of African appearance and wearing black clothing, as well as dark-coloured ski masks.

Detectives have since canvassed the area where the woman was attacked, but so far drawn a blank.

Senior Constable Stephanie Groom said the young woman had speculated her assailants were in their late teens or early 20s.

“But that is just speculation at this point,” Sen-Constable Groom said.

Sen-Constable Groom said both victims were extremely shaken.

“The victims are all trying to move on,” Sen-Constable Groom said.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au