St Leonards woman's bag stolen in slash-and-grab
A gang of youths riding a moped stole a woman's handbag in a slash-and-grab.
Kathryn Sargent, 58, of St Leonards, was walking in Pevensey Road on Monday (November 16) evening just before 6pm to go to a yoga class when the three teenagers struck.
She said: "They came up rapidly beside me on the pavement on some kind of motorized vehicle and cut the strap of the shoulder bag I was carrying.
"The group of whooping youthful-sounding lads in dark woolly hats, who moved so fast I had no time to get a description of either them or their means of transport, must have been disappointed to find that my ancient bag only contained a battered yoga mat, blanket and t-shirt.
"The attack happened as I was walking down to St Leonards centre, on the left hand side of the road facing the town, roughly level with Carisbrooke Road. No one else seemed to be walking around at that time."
She said she only had a few pounds for her exercise class and her house keys when she left home which were in her jacket.
Mrs Sargent said: "I've lived in the area for 20 years, have done a self-defence class and am always careful. However the speed of the grab took me by surprise.
"I was untouched and unhurt but this gang might 'get lucky' next time, so it would be helpful to warn others about them, especially as they obviously had some kind of blade."
PC Diane Browne, investigating the attack, said the three youths made off towards London Road on the moped.
Police are now appealing for urgent information concerning a group of youths that are using mopeds to commit crime in Hastings.
The mopeds are being stolen in various places across the town and the youths have been seen riding them, often without crash helmets or safe protective clothing on the roads, even in the daytime and when the roads are busy.
Officers are linking the moped thefts with Tuesday's handbag snatch and to a number of petrol thefts from service stations in town.
Inspector Martin Mann, of Hastings Police, said: "We are very keen to catch these youths not only to stop their crime activities but they need to be stopped before they injure themselves or an innocent member of the public.
"If you have any information about the identities of these youths, know who they are or the whereabouts of the stolen mopeds, please get in touch with Hastings Police. We need your help before someone is seriously hurt.
"I would ask that the police are called immediately if any mopeds or scooters are seen being driven on the road in a dangerous manner with or without safety helmet."
Police can be contacted on 0845 6070 999 with any information.
In addition, police are asking people with mopeds or scooters in town to make sure that at all times their bikes are fully locked and secured. The steering locks on bikes are often insufficient and a large chain lock is much better. Anyone requiring crime prevention advice can contact Crime Prevention Officer Lee Harris at Hastings Police station.
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