Police hunt handbag thief

Police are hunting a robber who attacked a 77-year-old woman.

At about 3pm on Saturday 30 October 2010, the victim was walking home with a carrier bag after visiting the shops on Kirkway, Middleton.

As she got to Hardfield Road the attacker came up from behind, grabbed her round the neck and ripped the bag out of her hand and ran off.

The victim was not injured but has suffered a neck pain since the incident.

The offender is described as a white man in his 30s, about 5ft 11in tall, with a stocky build, and was wearing a khaki jacket with the fir-trimmed hood up. He also wore beige trousers and was described as having a pale face and looking ‘poverty stricken'.

PC Steven Smith, based at Middleton police station, said: "A woman should be able to walk home from the shops without being attacked like this.

"This cowardly robber obviously preyed on her because she was on her own and elderly.

"I believe the suspect was loitering around the Kirkway shops just before the robbery so I now want to hear from anyone who saw him acting suspiciously to call us."

Anyone with information is asked to call Rochdale robbery unit on 0161 856 8632 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.