WANSTEAD: Hero postie chases muggers

8:43am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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A HEROIC postman ignored his own safety to chase a pair of vicious muggers who brutally attacked a frail pensioner.

Colin Day, 44, of Elmcroft Avenue, Wanstead, was walking home along nearby Grosvenor Road at 2pm on Thursday, May 8, when he saw two young men callously knock over an elderly woman and steal her shopping bag.

An outraged Mr Day quickly made sure the 78-year-old victim was unhurt before jumping into his people carrier and setting off in hot pursuit of the criminals' red Toyota coupe.

He said: "I saw her on the floor and the two men running away to their car. I was just so furious that they had attacked this little old lady I decided to give chase.

"My wife said I should have been careful as they could have had knives or weapons but I was so angry and couldn't let them get away with it."

"I followed them down Hermon Hill but they were ducking and weaving in and out of traffic and I lost them. But then I managed to cut them off around Cadogan Gardens and phoned 999 with their licence plate."

Unfortunately the Toyota had false plates so it has not yet been possible to trace those responsible, and the victim is so traumatised by her ordeal and scared of reprisals that she does not want to press charges.

After making their escape, however, the dim muggers will have discovered that the bag they stole contained nothing but a few lightbulbs. The lady's cash was in the handbag that she held on to.

Mr Day said: "It's very distressing as I've lived in Wanstead for 11 years and the amount of crime is getting worse. And I don't agree with these youngsters getting such light sentences - it's like the Government is on their side.

"I think we need more CCTV cameras to catch people like that too. When my kids get a little older I'll worry about them walking the streets at night."

Sergeant Kate O'Riordan of Snaresbrook Safer Neighbourhood Team said a similar attack occurred in Wanstead Place only two weeks previously when a woman in her 20s was pushed to the ground by two young men who fled the scene in a car.

She said: "I'm really frustrated by what's happened because we've worked so hard to stop this kind of thing happening in Wanstead.

"This woman was old and vulnerable and they targeted her because of this. The lady involved suffered head and arms injuries and is staying with a relative while she recovers."