Mugger robs woman in busy Burnbank street

Feb 18 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A MUGGER grabbed a lone woman and pinned her to a wall before robbing her of £100 in front of horrified shoppers in a busy Burnbank street.

The 34-year-old was left severely distressed after she was seized by a man and threatened with violence before being mugged in broad daylight in Glasgow Road.

Her ordeal began after she lifted cash from the Clydesdale Bank ATM at the nearby Burnbank Centre on Saturday, February 6, between 1.30pm and 1.40pm.

She was carrying the cash in her right hand and her handbag in her left as she made the short walk through the Burnbank Centre to Glasgow Road.

She had reached McCurdie dental practice when her attacker pounced.

He grabbed her from behind and pinned her against the wall. When she tried to fight him off, her attacker threatened to hurt her if she didn’t hand over money.

Reluctantly, the woman gave him her cash and he made off. He was last seen running towards the Burnbank Centre.

The distressed victim raised the alarm by contacting police.

A police spokesperson has appealed for witnesses before the robber strikes again.

“It could be that the man was watching her at the ATM and decided to follow her and pick his moment to rob her,” said the spokesperson.

“This was a frightening attack, particularly as it took place in broad daylight.

“This would have been a busy area at the time of the attack and someone must have seen something.

“I would ask anyone who saw the suspect in the area to get in touch with police immediately.

“We will treat any information, no matter how small, in the strictest of confidence.”

The mugger is described as aged between 30 and 35, 5ft 7in, medium build and of scruffy appearance. He was wearing a black hooded jacket.

Witnesses should contact Detective Constable Emma McLaughlin at Hamilton CID on 483300 or, alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where calls are free and anonymity can be maintained.