Woman is third bag snatch victim in month

Apr 23 2010 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

A TERRIFIED woman was injured trying to fight off a cowardly thief who snatched her bag in a busy street.

During the fierce struggle the ned kicked the 43-year-old victim’s legs, forcing her to the ground.

As she lay there injured the mugger ran off with the bag and money inside it.

Shocked motorists stopped their cars and ran after the robber but he vanished into shrubbery.

This latest assault is the third bag snatch within a mile radius in a month and police are refusing to rule out that it might be the same desperate thug.

The latest attack happened on Main Road, Elderslie.

It took place close to the ramp to the cycle track, at around 11am on Tuesday, just a short distance from Newton Terrace as the woman walked along the road alone.

Over the last month a 65-year-old woman suffered a head injury when she too wrestled with a yob trying to snatch her handbag in broad daylight in Stoddard Square, Elderslie.

But the bag strap burst during the tussle and she fell to the ground banging her head.

She was also walking alone when she was grabbed from behind.

Snatch number three was on March 22 in Lexwell Avenue, Elderslie, which is only yards from Stoddard Square.

The 69-year-old victim also fell to the ground when she was knocked off balance by the force of her shoulder bag being snatched from her.

One driver who witnessed the latest attack told the Paisley Daily Express: “I heard she put up a good fight in a bid to stop the robber.

“But at one stage he kicked the legs away from her and she collapsed to the ground. She hurt herself and the yob took advantage of that and snatched her bag away.

“By this time she did little to resist, she wasn’t able to.”

She suffered cuts to a finger and her head as well as bruising to her legs.

She did not go to hospital as paramedics treated her injuries at the roadside.

Police officers, some with sniffer dogs, searched the area but no one was found.

The thug is described as about 20, thin, 5ft 8ins tall, with ginger-blond cropped hair. He wore a black washed out jacket.

Yesterday as police stepped up their hunt for the vicious thief they issued an appeal for witnesses.

A police spokesman said: “This happened on a busy street in broad daylight.

“There would have been a lot of people about especially motorists.

“If anyone saw the incident or has information that might help our inquiries ring Johnstone Police Office on 01505 404000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”