A knife-wielding robber targeted two Clacton teens in an hour.
Detectives are linking one robbery and one attempted robbery which took place on Friday evening.
At around 5.30pm, a teenage boy was approached by an older boy on Upper Branston Road.
A police spokesman said: "He threatened him with a knife while demanding he hand over his mobile phone.
"When the victim ran off the suspect chased him."
The assailant ran off empty handed when his would-be victim discovered a friend.
At around 6.30pm, a 17-year-old girl was approached by a man in woodland off Flatford Drive.
The spokesman added: "The man stole her mobile phone after threatening her with a knife.
"Police believe the same individual committed both offences and are looking to identify and locate him."
The attacker is in his late teens, white but tanned, 5ft 11ins tall with thick set eyebrows.
He was wearing a distinctive dark top with multi-coloured squares on it.
Anyone with information should call detectives at Clacton police station on 101.
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