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Hunt for mugger after women are battered and left unconscious
Justin Davenport, Crime Editor3 Sep 2009
Police are hunting for a violent mugger suspected of attacking four women within hours in south London.
A professional woman walking home was battered unconscious after being struck from behind with a weapon.
The 47-year-old suffered serious head and facial injuries after the assault in Battersea and needed to undergo emergency surgery.
Residents heard her screams and came to her aid, but the robber had already escaped with her handbag. The attack took place at 8.25pm last Friday in Amner Road.
Just 10 minutes earlier a woman in her early twenties was also attacked from behind in Wandsworth and knocked unconscious.
She had her bag stolen. Police were alerted to the incident in Tranmere Road after residents came to her aid.
Later the same night a man in his twenties was attacked in Balham and had his laptop stolen.
The following morning on Saturday two women in their twenties were attacked in Eckstein Road, Battersea, near the junction with Severus Road.
They were both beaten around the head and face, with one being knocked unconscious. They also had their handbags stolen. The two women were walking to Clapham Junction station. Although they had luggage, the robber just took their handbags and ran.
In this case the mugger stepped out in front of them before the attack. The victims said he was black, of African origin, with high cheekbones.
He had an athletic build and was between 6ft and 6ft 3. He was wearing a navy top with dark or grey trousers. He was thought to be in his twenties.
It is unclear whether he had an accomplice for some of the attacks at this stage. The attacks are reminiscent of the death of French student Amelie Delagrange, who was attacked from behind with a hammer and left for dead on a cricket pitch in Twickenham Green in August 2004. Levi Bellfield was jailed for her murder last year.
Detective Inspector Matt Phelps, of Wandsworth Police, said they urgently needed to hear from anyone who may have seen the latest attacks.
He said: “These were vicious robberies, which were extremely violent and left all victims with serious injuries and needing hospital treatment.
“We believe at least two of the robberies are definitely linked, the one in Tranmere Road and the one in Eckstein Road, but all of them involved very excessive violence and although several of the victims had shopping or other bags, in each case the robbers stole just handbags and made a quick escape.
“These all happened in residential areas, not known for this kind of violence. In three of the cases, the victims never saw their attackers.
“People would have been around when these attacks happened, either making their way home or going out. Somebody must have seen or heard something and I need them to contact us without delay.
“We need to catch whoever is responsible, before they can attack any other innocent victims in this vicious way.”
Anyone with information should call police on 020 8247 8874 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
