A lorry driver was robbed at the roadside on the B1248 between North Grimston and Wharram le Street.
The victim, a 40-year-old woman, was flagged down by a passing vehicle on the at 3.20pm on Thursday 8 March 2012 and attacked by two men who took property from her cab.
Detectives are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and are appealing to anyone who travelled along the B1248 between 3pm and 4pm to come forward.
Prior to the incident, the victim had visited a scrap yard near Malton and after leaving she made her way from Amotherby along the B1257. She passed through Malton along Wheelgate, Castlegate and over the railway line onto Commercial Street in Norton before joining the B1248.
Shortly before entering the village of Wharram Le Street a small white van overtook her and the passenger indicated there was something wrong with her vehicle – a white cab carrying a red skip.
She pulled over to take a look and as she examined her lorry the white van, which had turned round and made its way back to where she had stopped, pulled up in front of her.
The men got out of the van and one assaulted her while the other man stole her possessions.
The victim was not seriously hurt in the incident.
Officers are urging anyone who can help the investigation to contact them with information.
Detective Sergeant Ian Fieldsend, of Malton CID, said:
It is important that we establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.
I would specifically like to speak to anyone who saw the incident itself, the two vehicles parked at the roadside or the white van making a turn in the road.
I am also asking that anyone who was travelling on this particular stretch of road between 3pm and 4pm gets in touch.
Whether you saw anything or not a five minute phone call can help us build up an accurate picture of what happened.
Detectives are also investigating the possibility that the vehicle had been followed for some time prior to the incident and are appealing to anyone who saw the lorry being tailed or the suspect vehicle parked up along the route.
Anyone who can help the investigation is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – and ask for Ian Fieldsend or Malton CID.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 12120037113.
