POLICE are hunting a cyclist who punched a woman and grabbed her handbag as he rode past her.
The brazen crime happened as the woman was walking with friends along Edinburgh’s busy beachfront Portobello Promenade on Saturday afternoon.
The women, who is in her forties, was not seriously hurt and managed to hold on to her handbag but was left “shocked and upset” after the attack.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward to help trace the man responsible, who made off empty handed.
The attack happened around 4.30pm, as the woman was walking along the promenade with two friends towards Seafield.
The cyclist approached the group and, as he passed the woman, punched her and grabbed her handbag, trying to steal it.
The woman screamed, and the suspect was forced to cycle off further up the promenade in the direction of Edinburgh Cat and Dog home before he became lost to sight.
He is described as being a white man in his forties and of medium / muscled build, with a bald or shaved head and blue eyes.
At the time of the incident, he was wearing an outdoor jacket and was riding a mountain bike.
Detective Constable Lindsay Kerr of Lothian and Borders Police said: “While not seriously injured, the victim in this attack was understandably shocked and upset following this incident.
“This was a very unusual crime to happen in the area, and we are keen to trace the suspect as a matter of urgency.
“I am now asking anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident to come forward immediately – it may be the vital piece of information we need to trace the person responsible.”
