Police are appealing for witnesses following the theft of an elderly woman’s purse which took place around 4.30pm on Sunday on Brunswick Street.
The 84-year-old victim was walking up Brunswick Street, towards Montgomery Street, when a woman offered to carry her shopping bags.
A short time later, the suspect stole the victim’s purse while she was distracted.
The suspect is described as white, around 30 to 40-years-old with shoulder length straight black hair who spoke with a local accent.
She was wearing a navy knee-length coat with black leggings, and was carrying a black and white patterned handbag.
Police Constable David Lee, of Leith Police Station, said: “This is a shocking crime where the person has deliberately taken advantage of a vulnerable elderly woman.
“The victim is understandably shaken and upset.
“Shoppers leaving a nearby Tesco or anyone in the surrounding area may have seen the suspect talking to the victim.
“I’m appealing to anyone who saw a woman that fits this description around that time on Sunday to contact us.”
Those with any information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 11.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
