Thieves targeted a woman while she tried to help them

A woman was robbed while she thought she was helping a woman in trouble.

On Monday, October 24 at 9.45am a woman, 50, was walking to Romford town centre from Dagenham Road through a shortcut that goes through the back of Queen’s Hospital.

She saw two teenage girls crouched down and thought they were hurt. They asked her if she had a phone on her and she took out her phone to offer them help.

One of the girls allegedly pushed the woman up against the garage wall and put her arm against her neck and collar bone while the other girl went through her bag.

They took her Kindle and a black leather purse belonging to her mother with family pictures in it.

She was left badly shaken and upset by the incident.

Both girls were white. The first was aged 15 to 16, about 5’2 tall, with blonde hair tied in a ponytail. She was wearing a pink velour hooded top and white tracksuit bottoms.

The second was aged 16 to 18, about 5’4 tall, wearing a navy blue tracksuit top and bottoms.

DC Graham Hill, from Havering Police, said “This is an unusual robbery in that the suspects are both female and they appear to have planned a way of making the victim believe they needed her help.”

If you where in the area and saw anything suspicious or have any information that could help us please call Romford CID on 101 or Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.