Police looking for shoe thieves

A man was robbed of his shoes in Salt Lake City Saturday — the second incident in two weeks when a robbery victim was left with just the socks on his feet.

Just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, a man was walking in the area of 700 South and 300 East when a white or gray four-door sedan pulled up next to him, said Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan. Three men got out, beat the victim and took his wallet and shoes, he said. The victim received only minor injuries.

In a separate incident last week, a man riding his bicycle near 200 South and 400 West was approached by two men who pulled up next to him in a car, asked if they could buy drugs off him and then forced him at gunpoint inside the vehicle, McGowan said.

The gunmen drove the victim to a remote area near 2000 North and 800 West, took his shoes, wallet, cell phone and house keys and threw him out of the car.

It was unknown Monday if the incidents were connected. McGowan did not know if the shoes had any value or if the robbers may have taken them simply to slow the victims from calling police.

— Pat Reavy