It just goes to show that even lowlife muggers want to look cool when there’s a pretty girl nearby…

According to police, at about 11:40 p.m. on February 17, a couple of university students were chatting outside the entrance to an apartment building in Kawani City, Hyogo Prefecture. As the male and female students were talking, a group of three young men—whose faces were obscured by black wool caps and neck warmers—approached.

One of the men suddenly punched the male student in the face and demanded, “Out with the money!” The shocked student complied and pulled the cash he was carrying—3,000 yen (US$27)—out from his wallet. The muggers then told the young woman to cough up too, so she handed one of the men a further 3,000 yen.

It seems, however, that the mugger who took her money had a change of heart in the midst of the violent transaction, throwing the cash on the ground, saying, “We don’t need [money] from the woman.” The men then all ran off.

The male student suffered light injuries to the face and a presumably bruised ego. The woman was unharmed.

Readers of this news struggled to wrap their heads around the actions of the robbers, who are also believed to be student-aged.

“What, was it ladies day?”
“That guy probably thought he was so cool.”
“I don’t think they were after money. They just saw the guy talking with a woman and wanted to mess it up.”
“Those are some sensitive muggers.”
“They were just idiots trying to be gentlemen thieves.”
“That’s 1,000 yen each. Lol”
“He should have said, ‘I don’t want your money. I want to steal your heart.'”
“And in doing so they leave fingerprints at the scene. Nice.”

It certainly does seem that money wasn’t their main objective since by passing up her cash they will now have to forego a meat-lover’s pizza and spend the spoils of their of victory on a regular pepperoni instead.

Also, as irrational as it seems, it’s not beyond a guy to think he always has a shot of getting with a woman, even while robbing her. But in the end, only they know why they did what they did. Who among us can unravel the dark complexities in the minds of master criminals like these?

Source: Sankei West, Kinisoku (Japanese)
Image: RocketNews24