Police: Muggers may be targeting women in South Seattle

Seattle police are investigating a series of street robberies in and around Beacon Hill. The dates and locations of the robberies are noted in the map. Seattle police are investigating a series of street robberies in and around Beacon Hill. The dates and locations of the robberies are noted in the map. Photo: Seattle Police Department Photo: Seattle Police Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Police: Muggers may be targeting women in South Seattle 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Seattle police are trying to determine whether a series of street robberies in and around Beacon Hill are related.

In a statement Thursday, a police spokesperson said investigators believe a pattern is emerging in street robberies occurring during the past two weeks.

Nine times between Oct. 7 and Sunday, robbers approached women near their homes on Beacon Hill and the Rainier Valley. The assailants then stole jewelry and other valuables from the women, who were described by police as Asian.

The robberies happen quickly. The robbers often grabbed their victims from behind or walked up to them, asked a question and then snatched their valuables.

Six of the nine robberies occurred between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Several of the women – who ranged in age from 35 to 75 – were walking from their cars to their homes when they were accosted.

Police have not yet found any links between the cases, as the descriptions of the suspects vary. Anyone with information about the suspects, please contact the Seattle Police Department robbery unit at (206) 684-5535.

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Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.