Police hunt thieves who targeted pensioner (From St Helens Star)

Police hunt thieves who targeted pensioner

3:30pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News

DETECTIVES are hunting two “callous” thieves, who attempted to steal a pensioner’s handbag.

They struck at around midday on Friday, September 7 as the 71-year-old woman was leaving Tesco on the Steley Way.

As they attempted to grab her bag, there was a struggle as the woman refused to let go. Instead they stole items from her shopping trolley.

The pensioner heard someone blow a whistle and they ran towards a light blue coloured vehicle, parked opposite the health centre on Sewell Street. It drove off back along Steley Way. The first offender is described as white, aged in his 40s, 6f tall and medium build

He had fair coloured shaven hair and stubble. He was wearing a dark coloured top and trainers. His general appearance was described as scruffy.

The second man is also white, in his 40s and skinny. Detective Inspector Webster, said: "This was a despicable and callous crime against a vulnerable, elderly woman going about her daily business. The offenders have left this woman shaken and traumatised following the incident.

"We are absolutely determined to find these offenders so they cannot commit further crimes but we need the public's help in finding these males.

"I would appeal for people to cast their minds back to last Friday and if they saw anything that in hindsight seems suspicious, to contact us with that information.

"I'd also like to reassure people that incidents like this are thankfully very rare and neighbourhood officers will be patrolling this area.

"Information that seems trivial to them may turn out to be crucial for us in catching these offenders."

Officers would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact 0151 777 6568 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.