Help Catch City Centre Mugger

WE don't often cover crime at Confidential, but this one was so sickening, we thought we'd help raise awareness and hopefully catch a particularly cowardly mugger.

Here's the release from Greater Manchester Police:

A 92-year-old man was mugged by a man posing as a Good Samaritan.

The elderly victim had travelled to Manchester city centre by coach and was attempting to catch a connecting bus to meet his ballroom dance partner in Oldham when he was lured to an isolated alleyway and mugged.

“The victim believed the man was going to help him find a more convenient bus stop, but instead he turned the situation to his advantage and lured him to an alleyway."

Sometime between 10.40am and 11am on Tuesday 6 December 2011, the victim arrived by coach at Chorlton Street bus station, having travelled from Stoke-on-Trent.

He walked up to Lever Street to get a connecting bus to Oldham.

The offender approached the man and said he knew where there was another bus stop where they could get a bus to Oldham and asked that he follow him.

When they got to Back Piccadilly the robber demanded the elderly man’s wallet.

He then pushed him to the floor and stole his wallet containing cash.

The victim was not seriously injured.

The offender is described as white, of medium build, about 30-years-old and was wearing a waterproof jacket.

The victim is white, 5ft 3in tall, of slim build and was wearing a flat cap and black jacket and was pulling a shopping basket.

Police Constable Colin Ridgway, from the Volume Crime Team, said: “This man was making one of his frequent visits to meet his dance partner when this devious criminal struck.

“The victim believed the man was going to help him find a more convenient bus stop, but instead he turned the situation to his advantage and lured him to an alleyway.

“This is a desperate act and I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw these two together or the offender at any point to call me.

“If anyone thinks they know the person responsible I would ask that they don’t think twice about coming forward because next time it could be your elderly relative who is targeted and we need to get this person before he has the opportunity to strike again.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Volume Crime Team on 0161 856 3913, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.