Four teenage girls are facing robbery charges after a woman was robbed and assaulted in downtown Winnipeg over the weekend.

A 62-year-old woman was sitting on a bench in the 500 block of Main Street around 7:45 p.m. Sunday when four girls, aged 14 to 17, tried to rob and assault her, according to a news release police press release published Monday. .

Through their investigation, police learned that the suspects had approached the victim and attempted to steal his cell phone. After failing to steal the device, the suspects threw the woman to the ground and assaulted her, police said.

The teens left the scene but returned and continued to assault the woman, then fled the area with some of her belongings before officers arrived, police said.

The woman was helped by a passerby. She suffered minor injuries to her upper body but did not require medical treatment, according to police.

Officers located and arrested the four suspects nearby. The victim and suspects did not previously know each other, according to police.

A 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds face a charge of robbery. A 17-year-old faces four charges, including robbery and two counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a court-ordered recognizance.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody, while the three others were released on recognizance, according to police.

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