Scarborough Police are appealing for the public’s assistance after a 73-year-old woman was punched by two men who attempted to steal her handbag.
The victim, who is from the Ripon area, was staying at the Mount Hotel on Cliff Bridge Terrace in Scarborough. At around 8.30pm on Thursday 27 September, she went outside into the hotel courtyard and sat down on a bench while she had a cigarette.
Two men approached her from the rear of the hotel and tried to snatch her handbag off her knee. They failed in their attempt to steal her bag and then both simultaneously punched the woman on each side of her face. The woman bravely hit out at the men and they ran off from the scene empty handed.
Police would like to hear from anyone who saw or heard the incident or saw two men acting suspiciously in the area of the Mount Hotel on Thursday night.
Detective Constable Steve Lloyd of Scarborough CID, said:
This was a shocking and cowardly attack on an innocent member of the public. The lady suffered bruising to her face during the incident and was very shaken up by the experience.
I am sure decent, law-abiding members of the public will be as repulsed as we are by this incident and will join us in wanting to bring whoever committed the offence to justice.
I am therefore appealing to the public to help us find the attackers before they strike again. I would like anyone who either knows who the offenders are or saw anyone suspicious in the area of the hotel on Thursday night, to contact us.
The first suspect is described as approximately 5ft 11in and was wearing a dark coloured hooded top, the other suspect was around 5ft 9in tall and was wearing a light coloured hooded top.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Lloyd. Alternatively, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
