Young thugs — ages 12, 15, and 16 — punch woman in face after failing to steal her fanny pack. Same crew points gun at man, makes off with his cash, cops say.

Young males — ages 12, 15, and 16 — punched a woman in the face after they failed to steal her fanny pack Friday in Seattle, police said, adding that the same crew pointed a gun at a man and made off with his cash.

KIRO-TV said both incidents took place the same day.

The suspects eventually were arrested, cops added.

What are the details?

Police said they responded to 16th Avenue and East Yesler Way shortly after 2:30 p.m. for a reported robbery. The 39-year-old female victim told police three males grabbed her fanny pack, after which a struggle for the woman's property ensued. Police said the assailants punched the woman in the face and fled on foot without the fanny pack.

The second victim, a 39-year-old male, told police three juvenile males approached him at 17th Avenue and Spruce Street, and one of them pointed a gun at the man and demanded his cash. Police said the victim complied, and the suspects fled on foot.

Police said officers determined the three males in question also stole a delivery driver’s wallet from his car while he was making a delivery earlier in the day.

Police said officers caught up to the three juvenile suspects and recovered the gun. The suspects were booked into Youth Services Center for armed robbery, police added.

How are folks reacting?

As you might expect, a number of folks commenting under the Seattle Police Department's Twitter post about the crimes were decidedly sarcastic about it all:

• "But how did teens get a handgun? You have to be 21," one commenter wondered, tongue firmly in cheek.
• "But we have gun laws, how can that be???" another user wondered with a wink.
• "But how did they pass the background check?" another commenter asked sarcastically.
• "Why use a gun to rob, it's Seattle ... neither the police nor the worthless DAs will do anything," another user declared.
• "Catch and release works for salmon to increase the population — same effect for criminals," another commenter pointed out.
• "This post was three hours ago, so I assume they’re back on the streets right about now," another user predicted late Friday night.