Police in Bielefeld are looking for witnesses after three unknown men allegedly tried to rob a man’s backpack on Friedrich-Verleger-Straße. On Wednesday, 11.11.2026, at around 15:05, a 29-year-old man was on the sidewalk near the Skater-Areal when three men approached him and asked for cigarettes and small change. While one suspect stood in front of him, two others allegedly positioned behind him and grabbed his backpack and his coat cuff. The victim said he was able to break free using physical force and keep his backpack. He then fled toward Jahnplatz, and the trio eventually backed off. Police describe the suspects as follows. One man is believed to be between 35 and 40 years old, about 185 cm tall, with a lean face and a thin full beard. He spoke broken German, wore a red cap and a thick dark blue winter jacket. A second suspect is described as about 170 cm tall, with an Eastern European accent, a half-shaved head with dark gray hair. The third man wore a dark cap and a black winter jacket. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspects is asked to contact Bielefeld Police Criminal Investigation Department 13 at 0521/545-0. Police are continuing their investigation and are appealing for witnesses.