NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A group of people were robbed Monday night while having a bonfire in a backyard in East Nashville.

Metro police told News 2 it happened in the 900 block of McFerrin Avenue around 9:30 p.m. when the suspects walked through the yard’s side gate.

The suspects, who authorities say were young black men, had two handguns among them. The victims were robbed of their purses, cell phones, and wallets.

The suspects then left down a back alley. People reported noticing two cars in the area that may or not be connected: an older, beige SUV and a smaller white two-door truck.

Metro police say there has not been a robbery like this so far this year and it’s very concerning.

Anyone with information is urged to call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME.

Overall, authorities say robberies are down in the East Precinct. From January until October in 2015, there were 208 robberies. For the same time period this year, there have been 165.News 2 is committed to tracking crime across Middle Tennessee. Visit wkrn.com/crimetracker for the latest.