Help us to catch this gang (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Help us to catch this gang

PEOPLE in Swindon are being urged to do their bit to help catch a ring of bag snatchers on bikes. Since May there have been 38 snatches many of them were on vulnerable members of our society.

Detectives suspect a gang who use BMX bikes to make their getaway may be behind the spate.

Now, in a bid to jog memories and help bring the robbers to justice, the Swindon Advertiser has drawn up a map showing all the robberies and the times they were committed.

Seventeen of the robberies took place in a small pocket in the town centre.

Det Insp Paul Jennings, of Swindon CID, says it is a race against time to catch those responsible before a victim is knocked down and killed.

"In the worst case scenario we could soon be dealing with a fatality a result of a victim falling over," he said.

"As you can see by looking at the map most of the incidents took place in the town centre and Gorse Hill area of town with one or two taking place in outlying areas."

As reported in yesterday's Adver, the latest snatch took place on Wednesday at around 7pm.

A 79-year-old, who was out delivering Avon cosmetics, was knocked to the ground as she walked along Gainsborough Way, in Fresh-brook.

Today she was due to undergo an operation on a smashed knee.

DI Jennings has not ruled out a link between this robbery and the recent spate.

He said: "It is still not clear if there is a link but we are not ruling one out.

"We carried out enquires in the area on Thursday night in an effort to locate witnesses.

"We have spoken to a number of people who were in that area at the time of the attack but so far we have not heard from any eye witnesses.

"It is a busy road and it happened in broad daylight. There is a good chance someone saw this incident.

"It is possible that someone assumed the victim knew the offender.

"We want to hear from anyone who remembers seeing someone on a bike approaching an elderly woman."

Where the bag snatchers have struck

Some of the incidents in detail:

CHAPEL STREET, FRIDAY MAY 24, 5.50pm

A 59-year-old woman was unhurt after having her bag snatched. Items stolen include: cash, umbrella, cosmetics, jewellery and bank cards. The offender who targeted the 79-year-old woman was a light-skinned black youth, aged 13 or 14 with a clear

complexion. He was of slim build and had neat shaven hair. He wore dark coloured clothing, including blue jeans.

EUCLID STREET, SATURDAY JULY 16, 1.45pm

A 30-year-old woman was unhurt after her bag was snatched. Cash, keys and a mobile phone were stolen.

Euclid Street, near the junction of Wells Street, August 5, 10.30pm

A pregnant woman had her bag snatched. Her husband thwarted the robbery by throwing his mobile phone at the offender. He was about 5ft 6in, in his late teens and slim, with medium length dark hair.

Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, August 12, 2pm:

A woman had her bag containing £100 cash and credit cards snatched. The thief was white, between 20 and 25, and of slim to medium build. He wore a white shortsleeved T-shirt, baseball cap and light blue jeans.

WHITNEY STREET, August 12, 1.25pm:

A man had his briefcase containing a limited edition Canon camera snatched. The thief is described as being white, about 5ft 7in tall, around 15 to 18 years old.

CRICKLADE ROAD, SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 7pm

A 21-year-old woman had her bag snatched by a would-be robber. She grabbed it back, pulling the offender off his bike. He immediately got back on and rode off.

Commercial Road, August 26, 6.25pm:

A woman had her briefcase snatched. The suspect aged between 17 and 20 was white, 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build, with short, fair, spiky hair.

Kevin Shoesmith