Disturbing CCTV footage has captured the moment a pensioner was pulled to the floor and dragged along the ground as she tried to stop a street robber who had snatched her handbag.
The victim fractured her shoulder during the horrifying attack in Feltham, south-west London, which happened on October 25.
Scotland Yard released the CCTV pictures on Monday in the hope of tracking down the robber, described as white, light-haired and about 5ft 8ins tall.
The horrifying video shows the victim and her husband walking down River Gardens at about 8.50pm.
They leave the shot but a split-second later the robber and the victim reappear, with the robber clinging on to the woman’s handbag strap and running at full pelt.
The woman gamely hangs on and is pulled over by the force of the man’s grip, before being dragged along the floor as he tries to escape.
Eventually the strap comes loose and he wrestles the bag free, leaving the injured woman lying on the ground.
Pc Josh Lowther of Hounslow CID said: “This was an extremely nasty robbery that has left a woman with a serious injury to her shoulder.
“It could have been far more serious as a huge amount of force was used to get the bag.
“If you recognise this man from the CCTV footage or have any information then please contact police.”
The bag was green and made of fabric, with a sparkly butterfly design on the front.
The man was wearing a pale hooded top and ran down River Gardens away from Staines Road following the attack.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Hounslow CID on 020 8247 6160 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
