AN 83-year-old woman is in hospital today after being dragged to the floor by two men who tried to snatch her bag.

Naomi Cassidy

AN 83-year-old woman is in hospital today after being dragged to the floor by two men who tried to snatch her bag.

The pensioner was walking along Halifax Road in Ipswich on Monday between 5.30pm and 5.45pm when two men approached her and grabbed at her bag causing the strap to break.

The victim fell to the floor with her bag and the men ran away empty handed towards Montgomery Road.

She is not seriously injured but is said to be in shock following the attack.

Both men are described as black, in their late teens, around 6ft and of thin build. One was wearing grey clothing and the other man had dark clothing on. Both of them had their hoods up.

A witness has described seeing the men after the incident sprinting along Montgomery Road, right into Tenby Road and left into Swansea Road.

A black woman in her early 20s with a black coat on was seen at the bus stop on Montgomery Road, at the junction with Tenby Road and officers are extremely keen to speak to her as she may hold vital information which could help the investigation.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman today said they are not linking the attempted theft with three bag snatches in the St Margaret's ward area between November 13 and November 16.

A 19-year-old has been arrested in relation to these offences and has been released on bail until December 22 pending further enquiries.

Officers stepped up their high visibility and plain clothed patrols in the St Margaret's ward area following the thefts.

If you can help police with their enquiries, call Dc Hannah Martin at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.