A PENSIONER had shopping stolen from her trolley by a bike riding thief in one of a spate of incidents.

Police are appealing for information as they investigate two thefts and a robbery that occurred on the same day in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough.

At around 1.25pm on Tuesday, December 5 a man on a green bike approached Aldi in Coulby Newham and stole a second bike, which is described as a green and black Trek bike, before making off.

The man was wearing dark clothing with grey stripes down the side and a dark hat.

At around 2.15pm the same day, a 48-year-old woman had her handbag snatched from her shoulder while walking through Lingfield Ash.

The man went through the bag in front of the woman before removing cash and demanding her phone.

The suspect is described as a white male, around 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build with a local accent.

He had a green bike, dark eyes and dark eyebrows, a scarf covering his face and was wearing a beanie hat, a tight dark top zipped up and dark tracksuit bottoms.

At around 2.30pm the same day, a 73-year-old woman was pushing a trolley through Tesco car park in Coulby Newham when a man lifted a bag of shopping from her trolley and made off with it while riding a bike.

This man is also described as wearing dark clothing and Adidas tracksuit bottoms with stripes down the sides.

Officers are linking these incidents and would ask local residents in the Coulby Newham area who may have CCTV to check whether they may have footage of the male matching the descriptions.

  • Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact PC Abby Freeman from Middlesbrough Operational Crime Team on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.