A Japanese high school girl who was tackled by a sock-stealing thief is the latest victim in a series of similar attacks against teenage targets, police said Friday.

The 16-year-old was walking in an eastern Tokyo suburb on Thursday when she was wrestled to the ground by a man who ripped a sock off her left foot and fled with the goods.

At least four other high school girls in the same neighbourhood have been victims of socklifters since September, police said.

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The latest victim was not injured by the thief, who appeared to be in his thirties or forties. It remained unclear if the same man was responsible for all the incidents.

“In the third case, a man took the girl’s leggings off. In all the other cases, victims lost one of their socks,” said a local police officer.