Police in central Finland report three similar robberies occurred last week. Young people stole clothing directly from victims in public places. All incidents happened on consecutive days in the Jyväskylä area.
Authorities suspect the same group of foreign-background teenagers committed the crimes. The suspects range from 14 to 19 years old.
In the first robbery on Thursday evening, a youth group approached a victim in central Jyväskylä. They chased the person down and stole shoes, a jacket, and a bag directly from their body.
Similar attacks occurred Friday in Kuokkala and Saturday again in central Jyväskylä. Police describe the situation as requiring immediate intervention.
"We are taking acute action now because three such reports came in such a short time frame," a police commissioner said in a statement.
The pattern of stealing clothing directly from people's bodies suggests either desperation or intimidation tactics. Targeting multiple victims in quick succession indicates growing boldness among these young offenders.
Jyväskylä is a university city in central Finland with approximately 140,000 residents in the urban area.