Rice warns women to take care after mugging

12.00.00am GMT Wed 3rd Dec 2003

ALLIANCE Councillor Geraldine Rice has warned women in South Belfast to take extra care after a woman suffered a head injury during a mugging in Carryduff.

She fell to the ground in Meadowvale Park close to the Carryduff Shopping Centre during a struggle with a man who demanded her handbag. The man took the bag which contained a large amount of money and escaped in a silver coloured car.

Cllr Rice said: "With Christmas approaching, it's quite likely that more opportunistic robbers will be out on the prowl. I would urge women to take care, not to carry large amounts of cash and to consider walking accompanied and in places where they will not be isolated.

"I would also urge any one who has any information about his attack to contact the PSNI immediately. No-one wants to see a repeat incident, particularly during the festive season."