A 93-year-old woman had her purse stolen by a woman wearing a distinctive mauve beret.

The victim had earlier withdrawn money from the bank and was returning home when the woman approached her in Carlyle Road, Cambridge, at about 3.15pm on Wednesday (January 16).

She engaged the victim in a short conversation before taking the purse from a bag she had placed on the ground.

The thief was described as being of Mediterranean appearance with a foreign accent, 5’6”, of average build, black hair and in her 30s. As well as the beret, she was wearing a coat and shoes that were white at the back.

Detective Sergeant Rich Sinclair, from Cambridge CID, said: “This was a despicable crime against a vulnerable woman and we believe she may have been followed from the Chesterton Road area.

“I would ask anyone who has seen a woman matching this description or has any information that could help our inquiry to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Sinclair or PC Andy Watters on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.