POLICE are investigating a spate of seven handbag thefts and attempted robberies.

And some of the incidents, which occurred during a five-day period, are being linked.

Three of the crimes were carried out by a duo while the remainder involved a single individual.

The first incident happened last Wednesday (Sept 15) at 11.15pm and involved a 62-year-old woman walking along Holcombe Road, Greenmount.

Two men pushed the pensioner and stole her bag containing cash and other contents worth a total of £345.

One of the thugs was bald, 5ft 10 tall and wearing a dark tracksuit top with white stripes on the sleeve, beige trousers and trainers.

His accomplice had what police describe as a basin-style haircut.

On Friday (Sept 17) at 10.25pm, a 72-year-old woman was targeted in Grassington Court, Walshaw, Bury. But she managed to hang on to her bag and the would-be robber fled empty handed.

He was aged 18-22, 5ft 6inch in height, slim build with a very close cropped haircut and wearing a dark anorak.

The third incident happened in Holcombe Avenue, Bury, on Saturday (Sept 18) at 8.5am. Again, a single male attempted to steal a 45-year-old woman's handbag. But he failed to do so and ran off.

He is described as being 5ft 6 tall, skinhead and wearing a blue denim shirt, blue bomber jacket with a white patch on the lower arm and white trainers. He was of a scruffy appearance.

Ten minutes later, two men stole a handbag from a 43-year-old female as she walked along Millett Street, Bury. They stole her purse and contents worth £35.

One of the robbers was 5ft 1inch in height, bald head and wearing cargo-type trousers and fleece jacket. He was aged in his early 20s.

The second man had a tanned complexion, 5ft 5inch in height with shaved head and wearing the same type trousers and dark jacket.

At 11.5am the same day, a 79-year-old woman had her bag stolen as she made her way along Lowes Road, Bury. The bag contained goods valued at £38.

The thief was aged 19-22, around 5ft 11inch tall and wearing sports clothing.

At 3.45pm, also on Saturday, a 53-year-old woman had her bag pulled from her grasp in Parsons Lane, Bury. She was dragged along the ground and sustained grazing to her hand and cheek.

Stolen was a mobile phone and other contents worth £30. A male aged 17-18 with a short skinhead cut and wearing designer-type clothing was the culprit.

The final incident happened in Hornby Street, Bury, between 4.0-4.15pm on Sunday (Sept 19). Two males grabbed a handbag from a 46-year-old woman and made off in separate directions.

Cash and other contents worth £30 were taken in the robbery.

Both were aged in their 20s, 5ft 10inch tall with shaved, bald heads, thin features. One was wearing a T-shirt with green horizontal stripes and black jeans.

Anyone with information about any of the seven incidents is asked to contact PC Dominic Carroll at Bury police township on 856 8127 or Bury police crime management unit on 856 8157.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.