Elderly man knocked to ground during attempted robbery in Kirkcaldy

An elderly man was knocked to the ground during a violent struggle as he tried to stop his wife’s handbag being snatched by a thief.

The couple, both in their 70s, were in Kirkcaldy car park when a scruffy man grabbed the woman’s bag in what police described as a “cowardly attack”.

The husband intervened and was knocked over, hitting his head on the ground.

The thief fled empty-handed, however, when another woman stepped in and wrestled the bag back during another struggle.

Police Scotland are hunting the perpetrator of the attack which occurred at 3.35pm on Saturday in Coal Wynd car park as the town was busy with shoppers.

He ran off and was later seen on the High Street near Kirkcaldy Indoor Market.

Detective Sergeant Craig Fraser said: “This was nothing short of a cowardly attack on an elderly lady by this suspect who saw fit to struggle violently with all three people in his attempt to steal this bag.”

The suspect is described as white, in his 30s, about 5ft 7in tall, scruffy, with frizzy hair. He was wearing a black bomber jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms and was carrying a rucksack.

Anyone who can help identify him is urged to call police on 101.