Birmingham knife robbers taunt victim with 'rock, paper, scissors' and ask chilling question

Three masked youths have threatened a man in Bleak Hill Park in Erdington and stolen a number of valuables including an iPhone and AirPods

Masked robbers have threatened a man at knifepoint at a Birmingham park before emptying his pockets stealing a number of valuables. The incident took place in Bleak Hill Park off Streetly Road at around 5pm on Thursday (October 3).

The man was returning home from his workplace in Erdington High Street and was looking to buy flowers for his mum’s birthday. After not finding any walking through Erdington, he headed through Bleak Hill Park.

He spotted three lads on a bench but thought nothing of it until they started calling out to him, the victim claims. He told BirminghamLive they 'ignored them at first but then they surrounded him, with one holding a six-inch knife to his chest and demanding he handed over his valuables'. They also asked him where he lived ‘in case he snitched’, the victim told BirminghamLive.

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He claims that 'while one was holding the knife against him, another robber rifled through his pockets taking his iPhone 14 Pro Max phone, his AirPods, his wallet with cards and driving licence, a beard comb and a silver chain'.

The group taunted him offering to play rock, paper scissors for his chain, before running off in the park. The 23-year-old victim, who asked not to be named, then headed to two mums in the park, asking to use their phone.

He knocked on doors of homes, tried staff in shops before finding a friend of the family nearby where he could then phone his mum and sister, call the police and call his boss to get a works credit card stopped.

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The 23-year-old told BirminghamLive: “I was at work that day and finished work at 4.30pm. I planned to go to a flower shop to get some flowers for my mum’s birthday.

“I went to a shop near Erdington train station and then cut through Bleak Hill Park. As you walk through there are two benches on the left-hand side.

“These guys were sitting on the bench. I had my AirPods in but usually turn the volume down when I pass people. I heard someone calling from behind, but I ignored it.

“Then they called me and said ‘have you got a lighter’. They started jogging towards me.

“One then grabbed my jacked and pulled out a knife and held it against my stomach. It was bigger than a kitchen knife around six or seven inches long I’d say. When it’s pulled out and you see it, you’re just still and just comply.

“One of the others was next to him and a third guy gets my phone and AirPods and things in my jacket. They asked where I lived ‘in case I snitched’. As soon as they took my phone they asked for my passcode to reset it. They then realised I was wearing a silver chain.

“I could tell they were kids as they said ‘do you want to play rock, paper, scissors with the chain’. I said ‘take it’. They also took a letter in my pocket, my wallet and then started running off.”

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The victim then began to run himself towards Streetly Road. He saw two mums by the swing section but they were unable to help. He went along Streetly Road and in a couple of shops asking to use someone’s phone but without success. He then remembered his mum’s friend nearby and knocked on her door and used her phone.

He spoke to his sister and mum first, then called the police and also alerted his boss. His cards were stopped. The thieves tried to use one around 5.30pm in Station Market on the corner of Gravelly Lane and Station Road, but his card was declined. He asked the shop for CCTV but they did not appear to have any.

The victim’s mum posted on social media and got a message saying she saw the lads in the park, leaning against green posts after the incident and she was with a young lad who had headphones on. She believes the robbers went to approach him then saw she was with the lad and backed off. She said one of them got on the 28 bus – which goes towards Heartlands Hospital.

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The three robbers are described as being black, around 5 ft 10 or 5 ft 11 tall, of slim build, around 17 to 19-years-old and covered head to toe in balaclavas and tracksuits and puffer jackets. One was said to have taken his goods down in the shop and had curly hair.

The victim said: “I have been a bit on edge. I go through that park and now I have taken lifts to and from work. You could tell these guys were local lads.

“It’s shocking. It’s the second time it’s happened to me. I was robbed leaving Streetly School when I was younger. They took everything I had apart from my chewing gum and keys.”

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: “We were called to a robbery in Streetly Road, Birmingham, at around 5pm on Thursday (October 3) when a man was threatened by three men who had a knife.

“A number of items, including a wallet and a mobile phone, were taken and we're working to identify and trace those responsible. If you can help, contact investigators via Live Chat on our website or call 101, quoting crime reference number 20/896022/24.” Alternatively, anyone with any information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.