ON Saturday, August 21, I planned to attend a meeting in London which meant an early start on Metrolink.

As I drove into the Bury Interchange car park I noticed three youths standing by the automatic doors. Thinking that they were probably waiting for friends, I suspected nothing and parked.

It was as I walked past two members of the group that the third, now separated from the others, approached me with the lower part of his face covered. Passing me, he snatched at my handbag with such violence that I was spun around, lost my balance and fell headlong.

The three robbers raced off towards Angouleme Way and into Pyramid Park where, later in the day, my torn bag, its contents scattered, was recovered. A purse containing about £80, cash card and keys had disappeared. I am in my late sixties and I was shocked and badly shaken by what had happened. When I fell I grazed my knee and bruised my nose. My jacket and spectacles were damaged. The consequences of such an attack could have been much more serious of course. In some respects I was fortunate.

It would seem that the incident was carefully planned for the first lone person to come along. It is unlikely that mine was the first attack to be carried out by that group: these cowardly individuals knew their business. I was taken by surprise and it all happened very quickly.

I write this letter as a reminder to readers to be constantly vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Our public places can be just as dangerous on a bright, sunny August morning as during the hours of darkness.

I hope that these callous criminals will be caught and, when they are, that their punishment will fit the crime.

C. H.

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