Zaandam police probe two separate street robbery attempts in July

Police in Zaandam are investigating two robbery attempts that occurred within a kilometre of each other in mid‑July. The first incident involved three teenage boys on fat‑bikes who tried to snatch the bag of a man travelling in an electric wheelchair on Peperstraat. The victim suffered shoulder, neck and jaw pain but did not require hospital treatment.

Later the same day, a woman walking along Botenmakersstraat was attacked when a man attempted to pull the chain of her necklace, causing her to fall and sustain head and neck injuries. Police have released a description of the second suspect – a light‑skinned male, about 1.75‑1.80 m tall, slim build, brown hair and eyes, wearing all black – and are asking anyone with information or camera footage to come forward. Both cases are being treated as linked street‑robbery investigations.