Robbery Victim Given Cash Gift
An elderly woman who was injured in a robbery in Portsmouth has been given a £200 gift from a company who heard about her ordeal.
The 83-year-old woman had her bag snatched in Stamshaw, Portsmouth at around 11.15am on Tuesday, December 20.
The woman was visiting a relative’s address in Derby Road, as she walked through a cut-through into Stanley Road she was approached from behind by an unknown person.
The person stole her bag from the top of her shopping trolley. The bag was also being held tightly in the woman’s hand so as the bag was pulled from the trolley the woman was pulled to the ground and hit her head and hip.
Following the incident the offender got in a white van which left the area in the direction of Twyford Avenue.
The woman was left very shaken by the incident and sustained minor injuries to her head and hip which did not require hospital treatment.
A vehicle which police believe was involved in the incident was located yesterday (Wednesday, December 21) in Bedhampton. This vehicle, a white Citroen Berlingo with the wording ‘Buchanan’ on the side, was reported stolenfrom Links Lane, Rowands Castle on Tuesday morning.
DS Mark Hall said: “Understandably this incident has left the woman extremely shaken. This is a terrible crime against an older, vulnerable, woman just before Christmas.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have seen what happened and can help us identify the offender, or has any information about the theft of the van and who may have been driving it.”
Buchanan Building Services, based in Rowlands Castle, who owned the stolen van, have given the robbery victim a gift of £200 after hearing about her ordeal. This was a collection among staff and is being passed onto the victim today (Thursday 22nd December) by the investigating officers.
Anyone with information should contact DS Mark Hall at Fratton CID on 101. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
