AN APPEAL has been launched after a bobble hat-wearing man tried to steal a woman's handbag by using a pair of scissors to cut the bag's strap.

Between 11am and noon on October 23, a 49-year-old woman was walking to the One Stop store, in Stanford Road, Brighton Hill, when she was approached by a man.

The man tried to steal her handbag by trying to cut the strap with a pair of scissors, but the woman managed to hold onto her bag and the attempted robber ran off empty-handed.

The woman did not sustain any injuries during the incident. 

The man is described as being white, aged between 30 and 40, around 6ft tall, of a skinny build and was wearing brown trousers, a black top, glasses with black frames and a bobble hat.

PC Ricky Whitehead said: “We’d like to speak to anyone who may have seen a man matching this description hanging around the area that day.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind people to keep their valuables out of sight where possible and to keep any bags close to your body at all times.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting 44180398809, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.