Australian man stabbed to death for bicycle

MELBOURNE - A father of three has been stabbed to death in Melbourne by a gang who then fled with his valuable racing bicycle.

The Herald Sun newspaper has identified the victim as 25-year-old Alex Cooper.

The man's name has not been formally released by police, who have said he was from suburban Reservoir.

The young father was pushing a yellow racing bicycle as he walked with his girlfriend, Michelle, when the group set upon him at the corner of Dight and Perry streets in Collingwood about 11.45am (1.45pm NZT) yesterday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles said a man approached the victim with a knife and an argument broke out.

Two other men joined the first attacker and the victim was stabbed before the group fled with the bike, he said.

Mr Cooper's cousin, Nari Hudson, told The Herald Sun: "For something as simple as a bike... we have to tell three children that daddy's not coming home."

Mr Cooper had recently moved from Perth to Melbourne and was living with Michelle and their children, all aged under six, in north suburban Reservoir, relatives said.

"He was good, he was always just having fun," Ms Hudson said.

- AAP