A WOMAN has been left heartbroken after a thief wrenched her handbag from her arm and ran off with the treasured memories inside it.
Samantha Green was targeted as she walked along a path in Winyates on Thursday (August 20) at around 12.45pm.
Along with her house keys, purse and bank cards Samantha was robbed of loving reminders of her best friend, who sadly passed away in March.
“He has taken all of my memories,” she added. “It wasn’t until later on when everything had sunk in that I realised.
“I had lots of photos and even a bit of video on the phone of my best friend but now those are gone.”
The 47-year-old was walking along a path, which cuts between Hollyoakes Close and Winyates Way, leading to the Winyates Centre, when she fell victim to the mugger.
“I don’t know where he came from, just all of a sudden I felt my bag move and then my arm was wrenched backwards,” she said.
The Matchborough resident said her first thought was that she needed to get her mobile back as she was awaiting a call from a job interview.
She chased the man but there was no one to heed her cries for help.
“It was horrible, I was in absolute bits but just kept walking until I reached the Winyates Centre.”
The manager of the One Stop came to Samantha’s aid, ushering her into the shop and calling the police.
Samantha has had to change her locks as her keys and a bill with her address were inside the handbag.
The suspect is white, tall and of medium build with brown hair and around 19-years-old.
He was wearing a stripy brown and white T-shirt and dark jeans.
Anyone with information is urged to call 101 quoting incident number 268 of August 20.
