Handbags stolen in series of robberies

They took place in Ascot, Datchet, Windsor and Old Windsor.

A 71-year-old man was walking along Lyndhurst Road in Ascot at 6.05am when a dark-coloured vehicle pulled up alongside him and a man got out demanding his wallet.

The pensioner refused and ran off to a nearby shop where he called the police.

At 6.50am in Old Windsor, a car pulled up to a 17-year-old girl who was walking along Albert Road.

A man demanded her mobile phone and when she refused he snatched her handbag and got back into the vehicle, which was being driven by another man, and drove off in the direction of Datchet.

The third robbery was sometime between 6.50am and 7.50am in Slough Road, Datchet, where a 15-year-old girl was threatened and had her handbag stolen by a man who left the scene in a dark-coloured car.

Finally, at 7.30am, a woman was walking along Green Lane, Windsor, and a car pulled up and a man got out and stole her handbag.

The man in each robbery is described as black and travelling in a dark-coloured saloon-style car, possibly black or dark grey.

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Groenen said: “We believe that these incidents are linked and I would urge anyone with information about any of these robberies to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible. "

Officers have carried out door-to-door enquiries and Det Sgt Groenen reassured residents that 'incidents of this type are very rare and that a team of detectives are working hard to find those responsible'.

Call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.