FOUR more people have fallen victim to robbers on York’s streets, as the city experiences a spate of violent crime.

Police have launched two appeals for witnesses after three teenagers were threatened by a knife-wielding thug before managing to escape, and a gang of men kicked another man in the head as they stole his cash and mobile phone.

The three 18-year-olds were walking along Hurricane Way, Clifton Moor, at 10.50pm on Monday when a man brandishing a kitchen knife approached them and threatened to stab the group unless they handed over all the money they had.

The teenagers said they did not have any money before running off.

The armed man did not chase them.

Police officers are also hunting three men who were loitering under the bridge in Haxby Road between 9pm and 9.30pm on Friday.

The gang targeted a 25-year-old man walking along the cycle track between Haxby Road and Ashville Street.

Police said the victim was chased to the entrance of Ashville Street where one of the men pushed him over and stole a black Samsung mobile phone, a small amount of cash and a packet of cigarettes. He was then kicked in the head before his attackers ran off towards Clifton, heading back under the bridge.

Since January, other violent crimes in York have included knifepoint robberies in Clifton, Heworth and Acomb, a car park attendant being punched and robbed, and a man being slashed in the face by armed robbers near West Esplanade.

Police have appealed for anybody in the Ashville Street area last Friday night or anybody with information about the attempted robbery in Clifton to phone York CID on 0845 6060 247, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.