£3000 reward offered in bid to catch mugger

A reward of up to £3000 has been put up to help catch the person responsible for leaving a pensioner fighting for her life in hospital.

The reward is being offered by crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers for information to help police catch the thug who attacked 75-year-old widow Evelyn Crawford.

The pensioner, who is an elder at Drylaw Parish Church and is described as a pillar of the local community, had been visiting an elderly woman just out of hospital when she was attacked by a mugger.

She suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken finger after being violently dragged to the ground by the mugger, who snatched her handbag.

Widow Mrs Crawford, who has been honoured as Drylaw Citizen of the Year, underwent an operation following the attack at 6pm on Sunday, January 15, having a drain fitted to remove fluid from the lung.

She is currently recovering in hospital following the attack, but has been left “extremely distressed” by the ordeal.

Police are still appealing for any information which could help catch her attacker – and now Crimestoppers has put up the reward in a bid to encourage people to come forward.

Crimestoppers National Manager for Scotland, Kate Jackson, said: “It is a sad reality that this well respected member of her community has been violently attacked in this way.

“Please contact Crimestoppers straight away if you have any information relating to this crime so that those guilty can be punished and the streets made safer in this area.

“I urge anyone with information on the man responsible for this to please act immediately by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by visiting our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org and filling out one of our secure forms.”

The attack took place in Groathill Road North, near the junction with Easter Drylaw Avenue. The mugger was pursued by a member of the public, who chased him towards the Telford Road area before losing him in Easter Drylaw Drive.

The attacker is described as in his early 20s, around 6ft tall and skinny. He was wearing dark clothing and a hat.

The reward of up to £3000 is for information provided to Crimestoppers through its anonymous number that leads to an arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for this specific crime.

Mrs Crawford has been a member of the community council in Drylaw for around ten years, and an elder at Drylaw Parish Church for more than two decades.

In 2007 she was honoured for her work with the church, Brownies and Rainbows, which earned her the annual Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship.