A 76-YEAR-old pensioner had her arm broken after being robbed by a scruffy young female mugger just a few steps from the front door of Macclesfield Police Station.
The victim, who was with her husband and on her way to a meeting at the town centre library, lost her balance as she fought for her handbag in a struggle on Brunswick Street at 7.30pm last Friday night. She was taken to Macclesfield Hospital and treated for a broken arm and shock and is now at home recovering from her ordeal. Police were said to be outraged over the attack which occurred right on their doorstep and the local MP Sir Nicholas Winterton called for jail for the offender who snatched the bag and made off towards Hibel Road. The bag, devoid of contents, was found dumped in the nearby sorting office at Jordangate yesterday (Tuesday).
The attacker is described as pale-faced, in her twenties, 5ft 5in tall, with shoulder length "straggly" black hair, and detectives are appealing for witnesses.
The victim and her husband were by the side entrance of Macclesfield Library on Brunswick Street, seconds away from the police station, when the woman struck.
DC Jim Bowbeer, of the Serious Investigation Unit, said: "We are treating this as a robbery and we are extremely keen to speak to anyone who witnessed this. If you saw this crime or if you saw anyone acting suspiciously or discarding something near the sorting office please contact us. The woman and her husband are shaken but they are now recovering well at home. We are keen to deal with this as soon as possible - it is a despicable crime." Sir Nicholas Winterton was equally shocked by the news of the mugging. Action must be taken," he said.
"I know at the moment that the courts are reluctant to send people to prison but to my mind if a person deserves a custodial sentence they should be sent to prison. This is such an incident."
Call DC Jim Bowbeer on 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
