Teenager mugs 83-year-old for handbag

AN 83-year-old woman was mugged by a teenage boy who snatched her handbag by pulling its strap over her head.

The pensioner was halfway down the lane linking West Newington Place and Causewayside in Newington when the thief struck at about 11:30am yesterday.

Her attacker then made off up West Newington Place and turned left into Blackwood Crescent.

A police spokesman said: "The strap of her handbag was grabbed and it was then pulled over her head. There was only a small sum of money in the bag. She was fortunate not to be injured but has obviously been badly shaken by the experience.

"The woman did not see his face as he approached from behind and he never spoke to her during the incident which was over very quickly."

The youth is described as being in his teens, thin and of small build. He was wearing a dark coloured top with the hood up and dark coloured trousers.