A POLICE chief is urging women to carry personal attacker alarms or even a whistle when out at night time.

This follows three attacks on women in which they were robbed while walking in Yeadon and Horsforth.

Detective Inspector Steve O'Callaghan of Weetwood Police, said women out at night time should be on their guard at all times and should, if at all possible, make it difficult for someone to pull their shoulder or hand bags from them.

"If they are out at night then I would suggest they are accompanied by someone. People can buy personal attacker alarms which can be obtained from the crime prevention officer at Weetwood Police Station," he said. "These alarms create a loud noise and can deter an attacker. The alarms can be carried in the hand and pressed immediately. People can also carry a whistle and should blow it continuously. An attacker does not like noise," he added.

In the latest incident a 56 year-old woman was walking in Green Lane, Yeadon, which was dimly lit, at 8.30pm on September 24.

She heard someone running behind her and the next thing she knew a youth had grabbed her shoulder bag and pushed her into the road. She in turn grabbed the bag but the youth managed to steal it, ran away and it is possible he got into a car.

The bag contained a purse, a small amount of cash, various library cards and other cards.

The youth is described as being white, aged between 15 and 17 years, is slim and between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 10ins tall.

He was wearing a baseball cap which had white and dark sections on it, a light coloured sweat shirt, dark jogging bottoms and light coloured trainers.

A 21 year-old woman was robbed while walking across the Cragg Road playing fields at Horsforth.

As she passed some changing rooms she became aware of someone walking towards her. "The man pushed her causing her to fall to the ground and then grabbed her purse which was in her hand. He then kicked her to the side of her body and ran away," said Det Inspector O'Callaghan.

The thief managed to get away with a black leather purse containing £14 and various cards. He is described as being black, aged about 30 and is about 5ft 10ins tall. He is slim and has short black hair and was wearing a checked shirt and a black jacket.

A 72 year-old woman who had got off a bus in New Road Side, Horsforth, was attacked and robbed in nearby Victoria Drive at 8.45pm on September 23.

Det Insp O'Callaghan said the woman was walking down the drive when she was approached from behind by a man who grabbed hold of her handbag and said 'give it to me.' "The woman eventually lost her grip on her handbag and fell to the ground grazing her knees," he said.

The man ran away with a black leather handbag containing a small amount of cash, various cards and keys.

The suspect is a white man aged about 20, is between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 9ins tall, is slim and has dark short hair.

He was wearing a sweat shirt, either white or grey in colour, dark trousers and spoke with a Leeds accent.

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