An Angus councillor has delivered a safety warning to young women after a “shocking” incident which occurred in his constituency on Friday night.
Councillor Ian Gaul has joined the police in issuing an urgent appeal for information after a young man approached a 30-year-old woman in a car park in the Tannage Brae area of Kirriemuir and tried to snatch her shoulder bag.
Mr Gaul said the victim must have been “scared out of her wits” by the attempted theft, which occurred at around 10.30.
“I’m just glad that this woman doesn’t appear to have been injured but she would have been terrified.
“Angus is one of the safest places to live in the UK and things like this hardly ever happen here, that’s why they are all the more shocking when they do but we’re not going to put up with it.
“People should be aware, however, of the possibility that it could happen and shouldn’t walk alone at night unless they absolutely have to.
“Young women in particular should take taxis wherever possible in this day and age.”
He said he was confident police would do everything in their power to catch the culprit, believed to be in his late teens or early twenties.
He is described as being around 5ft 10in and was wearing a navy hooded top and dark jeans at the time.
However, Mr Gaul added that it was frustrating when those with information did not pass it on to the authorities in a bid to protect those responsible.
He said, “I hope that if anybody did see this that they would come forward and not have this stupid attitude that they don’t want to ‘grass’ on anybody.
“That is one of the most inane points of view I’ve ever come across.”