Boy snatches pensioner’s bag in Hove

A teenage boy snatched an elderly woman’s bag in Hove early yesterday morning (Monday 2 July).

The woman, who is in her 80s, was walking in Derek Avenue just after 11am when the boy grabbed her small cream-coloured cord bag.

He was riding a black bicycle and was described as white, about 5ft 2in tall, of medium build, about 15 years old, with short brown hair and dark eyes.

He was wearing a black and white chequered hooded top.

Detective Constable Emily Hoare said: “This was a particularly despicable act given the age and vulnerability of the victim who had no chance to react and suffered bruising to her hand as the bag was snatched from her grasp.”

She said that the 6in x 4in bag had not been found and urged any witnesses to call Sussex Police on 101.