Violent Handbag Robber: CCTV Released

Police are hunting a bag-snatcher, who threw a middle-aged woman to the ground as she left a south-east London train station.

On November 16, last year at around 8.00pm, the 52-year woman exited Plumstead Station and walked along Walmer Terrace.

On Walmer Terrace she was approached from behind by a male who grabbed her handbag.

The woman was thrown to the floor and the man made off with the bag that included her personal items.

The man was later captured on CCTV cameras walking along Plumstead High Street towards Lakedale Road.

He can be seen walking along Lakedale Road before making his way back to Plumstead High Street where he sits at a bus stop before walking out of camera view.

The male is described as a black male, aged in his twenties, around 5'9", with short black hair and facial hair possibly a beard or goatee.

On CCTV he can be seen wearing a light coloured hooded top with dark shoulders and hood, but he turns this inside out making it a dark coloured hooded top when he commits the offence.

Detective Constable Danny Banks from Greenwich CID said: "We believe the man we are seeking to trace is either local to the area or has links to the area and I am appealing to anyone with any information as to the identity of the suspect to please come forward and assist us with our investigation.

"This man has caused much distress and it is of paramount importance he is caught as quickly as possible.

“We have carried out extensive enquiries and are now releasing footage of this man in the hope that someone recognises him.

"I would like to reassure people who may be concerned that local Safer Neighbourhoods officers have stepped up patrols in the area and are distributing crime prevention messages to residents, in particular asking them to be aware of their surroundings and of who is around them."

Anyone who recognises this man or can provide information on their whereabouts should call DC Danny Banks from Greenwich CID on 07789 574 885 quoting reference number 3623536/15 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.