Toronto police are asking the public for help in identifying two suspects in an alleged subway robbery this weekend -- help that wasn't forthcoming at the time for the victim.

On April 24, a 79-year-old man was riding an eastbound subway train, police said Monday in a news release.

As the train approached Chester station, a man sitting next to the victim asked for some change.

When the 79-year-old said he didn't have any change, the suspect asked him again. A second suspect then asked the victim for change.

The victim tried to activate the passenger assistance alarm but couldn't reach it.

Police allege both suspects then grabbed hold of the victim and stole his wallet.

The victim fought with the suspects and called out for help, but no one on the subway came to his assistance, police said.

"It is disappointing," Brad Ross, a spokesman for the Toronto Transit Commission. "People may feel intimidated about getting involved."

It isn't clear how many people were on the train or why they ignored the scuffle.

Ross said had someone else pushed the yellow strip, it would have alerted the subway train's operator and guard. They in turn notify transit control and TTC security officials before the train arrives at a station.

"We do encourage customers, if they see another customer or passenger in distress -- whether it's a medical incident or a criminal occurrence -- to press the yellow strip," he said.

The two suspects ran out of Chester station with the victim chasing after them.

Police later found the wallet on Danforth Avenue.

The suspects are described as 20-year-old black males. They are described as 5-feet-8 tall and were wearing all black. The jackets of either one or both of the suspects featured a design or writing on the chest.

In February, a 23-year-old woman was robbed of her iPhone while sitting on an eastbound subway train at Dundas West station. Police announced Friday they are still looking for the public's help in their investigation.

Snatch-and-grabs involving portable electronics such as iPhones are relatively common, but Ross said the mugging of elderly passengers is rare.

Anyone with information about either crime is asked to contact police at 416-808-5400, or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin and files from The Canadian Press