Woman, 25, attacked by stranger at Princes Street bus stop in mobile phone robbery bid

Police are appealing for those who helped the young woman to come forward.

A 25-year-old woman was left with a head injury after being attacked at a Princes Street bus stop by a stranger who tried to steal her mobile phone.

She was standing at the stop outside Debenhams when the man shouted at her, grabbed her and tried to steal the device, at about 12:40pm on Wednesday January 8th

Several members of the public came to her aid.

She was standing at the stop outside Debenhams when the man shouted at her, grabbed her and tried to steal the device. Pic: Google Maps

Police said the woman sustained a head injury in the incident but did not require medical treatment.

The man ran off along Princes Street towards the junction with Frederick Street.

The suspect is described as being aged between 30 and 40 years old, around 6 ft. tall with a slim build, black beard, missing teeth and looking dishevelled. He was wearing a black jacket, dark grey coloured jeans, a black beanie hat and boots.

Officers are in the process of checking CCTV footage and are appealing for the people who assisted the young woman to contact them as they may have information which could assist ongoing police inquiries.

Detective Constable Claire Riley said: “A young woman has been going about her day and has been assaulted by a complete stranger.

"Members of the public assisted her but she has been left badly shaken by the incident. I am appealing to members of the public who were in the area around the time of the incident to contact us. Princes Street is a busy street and you may have witnessed the suspect run off.”

Anyone with information is asked to call CID officers at Gayfield Police Station via 101, quoting incident 1656 of 8 January 2020. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously