Good Samaritan reunites elderly mugging victim with her handbag

Denne Parker Bayes came across the bag when she was out walking at around 11.20am, just after the thief snatched it from the victim outside Marks and Spencer in Dolphin Square, Tring.

A fellow female shopper gave chase but was unable to stop the culprit.

Mrs Parker Bayes said: “I saw the bag dumped on the ground and I thought, this doesn’t look right.”

She took it into a nearby shop as she thought a customer may have dropped it. She handed it to members of staff who then called the police.

Mrs Parker Bayes went home and did not find out what had happened until she checked the town’s Everything Tring Facebook page, where details of the incident had been posted.

She said of the victim: “I feel bad for her, it touches you. My mum has Alzheimer’s and even though she can’t go out, it makes you realise that this lady is someone’s mum, someone’s grandmother.

“I think it’s awful sad that someone could do this to a pensioner, an elderly lady who couldn’t fight back.

“The bag had her keys, her senior railcard and her panic button in. They are all expensive to replace, so I’m just glad I could get it back to her.”

It is believed that another person discovered the elderly lady’s purse discarded in a different location in the town.

The victim, who is in her 80s and was visiting her daughter from London, is reportedly grateful to have got them both back.

Mrs Parker Payes said: “I have lived here since 2000 but just lately, I think something is happening in Tring.

My husband was out walking our dog along Rosebery Way a few nights ago and heard male voices say to eachother ‘quick, let’s go – someone’s about’. What is happening to our lovely town?”

Police are still hunting for the suspect, who is described as a slim white man in his early 20s, with dark brown hair and a beard.

He was wearing dark clothing and is thought to be between 5ft 3 and 5ft 6 in height.

Those who have any information about the incident should call PC Stephen Hunneysett via non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number D3/14/462.