Teenagers stole a man’s fancy dress outfit in a knifepoint robbery on Halloween — then wore it as they held up other victims.

A man in his early 20s was walking along Gypsy Lane, Headington, Oxford, at about 8pm on Friday when two youths punched him and threatened him with a knife.

He refused to hand over his belongings, so they stole his cowboy hat and red plastic pistol instead.

Minutes later, the teenagers — one of them wearing the stolen cowboy hat — tried to rob a woman in Warneford Lane, but left empty handed.

At 8.05pm the youths punched a 14-year-old boy in Divinity Road and stole his rucksack. The robbers were all believed to be in their late teens, one was wearing a dark hooded top and the youth with the knife was wearing a red hooded top.

Det Con Simon Beaton, investigating the incident, said: “Clearly these are very serious offences and I would like to appeal for anyone with any information to contact the police.”

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.