Police are appealing for witnesses after a robbery where a woman’s handbag was stolen on Monday, April 6.
At 7.50pm, a 49-year-old woman was making her way home and was walking down Magdala Road.
She heard the sound of tyres on the pavement behind her and, thinking it was someone on a bike who needed to pass, she turned to move out of their way.
The youth riding the bike reached out and grabbed the woman’s handbag, which had been over her shoulder. The woman shouted, ‘No!’ loudly three times, and tried to take hold of the bag, but the youth rode on, taking the bag with him.
The handbag was black and made of fabric, around 7ins by 5ins in size. It had one main compartment that could be zipped up and had one shoulder strap. The bag contained £20 in cash, some personal cards, some photographs and a pair of reading glasses.
The youth who took the bag is described as:
- White
- Aged 14-15 years old
- Medium build
- Wearing a white baseball cap that had a red swirly logo on the front, a dark blue jacket that had a hood pulled up and over the cap, and jeans
- Riding a dark coloured, BMX style bike
PC Sharon Baber said, “This incident happened very quickly, however it happened in a residential street at a time when many people would have been at home, and may have seen the youth riding past, or heard the woman shouting. If you can help, please get in touch.”
Can you help?
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Sharon Baber at Fratton police station on 0845 045 45 45 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000.
