Elderly woman knocked down by handbag thief

An 81-year-old woman was forced to the floor as a man stole her handbag in Middleton.
The victim was walking along a cut through from Woodland Way to Park Way in Alkrington at 3.50pm on Tuesday 2 June 2009, when a man grabbed her handbag from her shoulder.

The victim fell to the floor and the offender ran off towards Woodlands Way.

The woman was not injured but was very shaken by her ordeal.

Sergeant Lindsey Wallbank from the Volume Crime Team said: "Stealing from a vulnerable lady like this is cowardly and cruel and I would hope that anyone with information about the person responsible would do the right thing and call the police.

"Fortunately the victim was not injured but she was very shaken and the consequences of this thoughtless attack could have been much worse."

The offender is described as white, aged in his mid 20s and of slight build. He had fair hair and was wearing knee length khaki shorts and a yellow and orange striped shirt.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Volume Crime Team on 0161 856 4052 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.