New trend of teenagers robbing delivery drivers of pizza in Amsterdam-Zuidoost

A new trend has emerged in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Instead of robbers targeting phones, watches, jewelry, and other luxury items, teenagers in the district are increasingly robbing pizza delivery workers. Instead of stealing the victim’s bike or phone, these kids are stealing their pizzas, the police reported on Instagram.

The police reported a “remarkable increase” in meal delivery workers getting robbed of the pizza they’re delivering, speaking of dozens of cases. Officers arrested six underage suspects in three separate cases in recent weeks.

“They are really only interested in the pizzas, not in money or other food that couriers carry with them,” a police spokesperson told Parool. “The picture we have now is that it involves young people operating in varying groups.”

Last week, officers caught four teenagers red-handed. After robbing a delivery worker, the teens thought they could hole up in a basement storage unit and enjoy their loot. Bystanders pointed out the location to the police, and the cops caught them eating the pizza they had just stolen. “The group was arrested and taken to the police cell complex,” the police said on Instagram.

“Although it might sound relatively harmless, every robbery, including pizza robbery, has a major impact on the victims,” the police said. “Delivery drivers feel unsafe on the streets, and business owners bear the costs.”

The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests may follow.