POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 79-year-old woman was robbed as she visited her husband’s grave at Petersfield Cemetery.
She had gone to the cemetery on Ramshill to place fresh flowers on the grave when she was approached by a man at 12.45pm on Sunday.
He asked her for some change and tried to grab her purse when she said she didn’t have any. He hit her hand to try and make her let go, but she held on. He did, however, manage to take £15 from the purse before running off towards Rams Hill.
The woman was left shaken. The man is described as white, around 30 years old, and about 5ft 6ins tall. He was very thin with a pale complexion and wearing a dark blue or black knee length coat with a hood up.
Detective Constable Simon Poulter appealed to the man to give himself up.
"It’s hard to believe someone would stoop so low as to rob someone as they were visiting their loved one’s grave.
"I would appeal for anyone who was in the area around the time of this robbery and saw anything or anyone suspicious to get in touch with me at the Northern Investigation team at Basingstoke police station on 101. They can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
"I would also ask the man who did this to take a very long hard look at himself and to show some genuine remorse for what he has gone by giving himself up. It will be much better for him than waiting for us to come and arrest him," he said.
Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.