Detectives are renewing appeals for information around a “despicable and cowardly crime”, which saw a woman in her 70s robbed and knocked to the ground in Ipswich.

Ipswich robbery - CCTV from Suffolk Police on Vimeo.

The robbery happened at around 7.35pm on Sunday November 5 in Victoria Street.

The victim, aged 79, had parked her car at the end of the road where it meets the pedestrian cobbled area outside the Westgate Ward Social Club.

She got out of her car and put her handbag over her shoulder and across her body when she was approached by a male who then grabbed hold of the bag. The suspect continued to pull at the bag resulting in the victim falling to the ground. He then forced the bag off her and ran off towards London Road.

The suspect is described as a male wearing dark clothing.

Officers investigating this incident have conducted numerous inquires this week, including reviewing hours of CCTV footage from the wider area near to where the crime occurred.

Following this work another potential witness has been identified. This person is believed to have walked past the victim’s car and the suspect just before the robbery takes place. They are described as a male, wearing trainers, black baggy trousers/jogging bottoms, a large black coat and a black baseball cap.

The victim’s handbag has not been recovered. It is described as a non-leather brown bag, containing a phone in a glittery case, brown-framed bifocal glasses in a red case, and a brown purse with a zip in the middle and a trinket on the zip.

Police are continuing to try to trace three people seen on CCTV walking across Victoria Street moments after the incident. They can be seen in footage of the robbery which was previously released by police.

Det Chief Insp Nick Power said: “This was a despicable and cowardly crime and we are appealing for anyone with information about it to come forward and help us to catch the person responsible.

“In addition to the three people who walked through the area shortly after the robbery, we now believe another person walked directly past the victim’s car and the suspect just moments before it occurred.

“This person in particular could provide us with vital information regarding the suspect and I am urging them, and anyone else who was in the area around the time of the incident on Sunday evening, to call us without delay.”

Any witnesses who may have seen a male in the area of the attack between 7.25pm and 7.45pm, or anyone with information about this crime, is asked to contact South CID at Landmark House on 101 quoting reference 71642/17, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.