Belfast: Pensioner resists viscious mugging

By Q Radio News

A pensioner has been left with a serious head injury after resisting a mugger in Belfast city centre.

The woman in her eighties was walking on Great Victoria street shortly before half past ten last night - when a man tried to snatch her handbag.

She kept a tight hold of the bag, but the attacker threw her to the ground before running off empty handed.

Sergeant Matt Boucher said: “It was reported around 10:25pm, that minutes earlier, a woman, aged in her eighties, had been walking down the street when an unknown male ran past her and attempted to pull her handbag out of her arms.

“The victim held on to her bag before the suspect forcefully pulled her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on a black metal bollard. She was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries which, thankfully, are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

“The suspect ran off along Great Victoria Street, in the direction of the city centre.

“He is described as being approximately 5’ 10 in height and was wearing a dark navy jacket with a blue upper panel and hood, dark tracksuit bottoms and grey trainers.

“This was a terrifying experience for the victim, who sustained a serious head injury as a result.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything, or who may have dashcam or other footage, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1813 of 12/5/22.”

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.   
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/