POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a plucky Harpenden pensioner was injured when when she chased a thief who had stolen her handbag.

The 71-year-old woman was sorting her shopping in Sainsbury's car park, in High Street, between 9.30am and 9.45am on Tuesday, October 9, when a youth snatched her handbag from the open boot of her car.

The man ran off across the car park and got into a G-reg blue Vauxhall Cavalier containing other occupants while the elderly lady gave chase.

As she tried to grab hold of the car door, the driver sped off, pulling her to the ground.

"The victim sustained a deep cut to her forehead and bruising to her elbow as she tried to stop the offenders getting away," said DI Joe Murphy of the Central Area Crime Unit.

"It's vital we catch the offenders and we are asking for witnesses to come forward."

The youth who snatched the bag is believed to be in his late teens and is described as white, approximately 5ft 10in tall, of slim build with short brown hair.

The handbag contained two purses and £250 in cash. The car used in the theft is believed to have been stolen from Harpenden railway station car park between 6.50am and 7pm the previous Saturday, October 6.

Police are linking this incident to another theft of a handbag from Sainsbury's car park in Everard Close, St Albans, on Sunday, October 7.

In that incident a 78-year-old woman from St Albans had loaded her car with shopping and was returning the trolley to its bay when a youth smashed the passenger side window of her red Nissan Micra and stole her handbag from the seat.

The offender also got into a blue Vauxhall Cavalier which drove off. A number of white males aged 16 to 17 were seen in the car.

Anyone with information can call the Beat Crime Unit at Hatfield on 01707 638165.

October 16, 2001 19:30

Shannon Price