MUGGERS stole a man’s phone – then gave it him back.

And they also failed to escape with his wallet despite demanding that too.

The 23-year-old victim was walking along St John’s Road, Birkby, at around 4.45pm last Sunday when he was approached and pushed by one of a group of three men who had been walking towards him.

The gang confronted the student and demanded his mobile phone.

The student handed over the phone but the men then ordered him to hand over his wallet and a carrier bag he was holding.

The suspects then made further threats to the victim, but actually handed the victim’s phone back to him before walking away.

The suspects – three men in the their mid-teens – walked out of sight up Osborne Road, Birkby.

The suspect who first pushed the victim is white, around 5ft 5ins tall and skinny. He was wearing a black baseball cap, a black Bench hooded top, dark tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

The second is Asian, around 5ft 3ins tall and skinny with a thin moustache. He also wore a black baseball cap, a dark hooded top and dark bottoms.

The third suspect is a Chinese man who looked older than the other two.

He is around 5ft 10ins tall and of medium build, with a moustache. He wore a grey hooded top with lime green trim on the cuffs and along the zip.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information should contact Det Con Mike Dean at Huddersfield CID via 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.