Four teenage girls have been arrested following a series of robberies in the Belgrave area of Leicester last week, including an attack that left an elderly woman with a broken pelvis.
Police say the incidents – which took place across two evenings – are being treated as linked.
Picture credit: Leicestershire Police
The first robbery happened at around 7.15pm on Monday 6 April, when a teenage girl was threatened and had her e-scooter stolen near the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre on Loughborough Road.
Later that evening, at around 8.30pm, a woman in her 20s was attacked while cycling through Rushey Fields. She was struck in the face, suffering cuts, and had her mobile phone stolen. The phone has since been recovered.
The following day, Tuesday 7 April, a woman in her 80s was pushed to the ground and robbed of her purse at around 5pm on Melton Road, near the Shree Hanuman Temple. She suffered a broken pelvis and was taken to hospital before later being discharged to a rehabilitation facility.
Just over two hours later, at around 7.15pm, another teenage girl was assaulted and robbed of her bag on Melton Road at the junction with Troon Way. She sustained grazing and bruising to her arms and legs.
Leicestershire Police confirmed four suspects – aged 13, 14 and two aged 17 – have been arrested on suspicion of robbery. They have since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
Detective Constable Zaeema Osman, the investigating officer, said: “Four robberies took place within 24 hours in the Belgrave area and one resulted in an elderly lady suffering a serious injury and will now spend weeks in a rehabilitation centre.
“The incidents are being treated as linked and we have made a number of arrests. The four girls have been bailed while our investigations continue.
“As part of our enquiries, we would like to hear from anyone who was in the areas at the times these incidents occurred or was driving past and may have captured dash cam footage.”
Officers are continuing patrols in the area and are urging anyone with information to come forward by calling 101 or reporting online, quoting crime reference number 26*198857.
