Women with handbags targeted in series of 'linked' robberies in Middlesbrough

A 17-year-old was pushed over by a man who had followed her into an alleyway near Hazel Court, Middlesbrough, before he stole her hangbag, at about 3.35pm on Thursday, December 6.

The man was described as white, wearing a hooded top and with a scarf covering his face.

Later that day, between 8pm and 9pm, a 28-year-old woman described being followed by a man on a bicycle on Waterloo Road in the town. He knocked her over and tried to take her handbag from her.

He was described as being white, about 23 years old, wearing a dark waterproof jacket and dark tracksuit bottoms.

The third robbery, at about 12.50pm on Saturday, December 8 involved a 19-year-old woman being followed by a man on a bike, on Park Road North. He grabbed at her handbag and knocked her to the ground.

A struggle followed with the man continuing to try to take the handbag from her and falling from his bike, possibly injuring himself.

He then left the scene, abandoning his bike and running through Parkside Halls of Residence towards Park Lane.

The suspect is again described as white, wearing a dark coloured hooded top, dark bottoms and black trainers with white soles.

Just afterwards, at 2pm, a vulnerable woman in her 60s who walks with a stick was followed by a man on Grange Road, near to the Magistrates Court and the Library.

The man approached her from behind, near Rutland Court, then wrestled the lady’s handbag from her, causing her to fall to the ground, injuring her arm and ribs.

The man then made off through an alleyway towards Elder Court, where he discarded the handbag, continuing towards the Crown Court area where a purse was dumped.

This man is described as being white, 5ft 6ins tall, wearing a navy/black hooded top, dark bottoms and black trainers with a white sole.

• Cleveland Police is appealing for anyone with information regarding any of the incidents, to contact DC Gillian Oliver on the 101 number, quoting event 223972.