A WOMAN has been left with cuts and bruises after a thief stole her bag in Edinburgh.
The 59-year-old woman was walking east in Blackford Road about 11.30pm when someone grabbed her from behind and tried to take her bag, which was strapped over her shoulder.
In the struggle the victim was struck in the face and suffered cuts and bruises.
When the suspect produced a small knife and tried to cut the bag free, the woman handed over her purse, which contained a small amount of money.
The suspect then ran towards a dark-coloured transit-style van, which drove westwards along Blackford Road and turned into Whitehouse Loan.
It is unclear if the suspect is male or female, but they are described as being white, 5ft 5ins tall, between 18-20-years-old, and was wearing a grey hooded top and spoke with an Edinburgh accent.
Fifty minutes later, about 00.20am, a 50-year-old woman was walking in St Peter’s Place at Horne Terrace when a man approached her from behind, produced a small knife and demanded her bag.
When he tried to grab it, she held on and fell to the ground, and was kicked and punched in the struggle, but managed to hold on to her bag.
The man was disturbed and ran off towards Viewforth Place when someone appeared at the window of a property nearby.
In this instance the suspect is described as being white, between 18-25-years-old, of slim build and around 5ft 10ins tall.
He was wearing a light green/khaki woollen beanie hat, a dark jacket and dark trousers.
A police spokesman said: “At the moment these two incidents are being investigated separately, however we cannot rule out the possibility they could be linked, so we are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.
“Fortunately neither woman was seriously injured, but both have been left understandably shaken. “We would be keen to hear from anyone who may have seen some suspicious activity in either Blackford Road or St Peter’s Place last night, and would urge anyone with any information to contact us on 0131 311 3131.”
