POLICE are hunting a robber who snatched a bag from a woman in a Redditch shopping centre.

Detectives are also appealing for help to trace a witness who chased after the offender.

The 19-year-old victim was standing outside F Hinds jewellers in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre at about 12.40pm on Tuesday, June 10 when a man came up behind her and pulled from her a shoulder a black leather handbag containing her blue Nokia Lumia mobile.

He than ran out of the shopping centre via the exit doors near the EE mobile phone store at Evesham Walk.

The woman suffered a cut to her arm as the handbag was grabbed from her but she did not require medical treatment.

The offender was a white man wearing a top with the hood pulled up.

Detective Constable Jordan Baker of North Worcestershire CID said CCTV footage was being gathered and witnesses were being urged to come forward.

He said: “This happened in a busy shopping centre in the middle of the day and therefore it’s likely that a number of people witnessed this incident even though they might not have realised what was happening at the time. I would ask them to contact us without delay.

"We understand that a man did chase after the robber but he did not return to speak to the victim so we don’t know what happened to him. I would appeal to this man to get in touch so that we can find out what he saw.

“Similarly we also believe that a woman went to help the victim afterwards but she did not leave her details – again we would like her to come forward in case she saw or knows anything that could help our investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact North Worcestershire CID at Redditch Police Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident reference 427-S-110614. Details may also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.