On two separate occasions,
American students were mugged in the city centre. The first incident
occurred near Ponte alle Grazie, when two American students were
beaten and robbed of their bags as they were walking home from the
Santa Croce area. Their assailant was captured by police the same
night. Days later, in the San Lorenzo area, another two girls went to
the hospital after being attacked by two unidentified male assailants
while walking home. In response, the English-speaking community in
Florence is calling on the city for increased night patrols in the
historic centre.