Police hunt red vehicle after Melton robberies

The first incident happened at around 10pm outside a pub in Welby Lane, understood to be The Welby.

The victim, an 18-year-old man, was sitting on a wall when the vehicle of that description pulled into the pub car park.

Two people got out and approached him.

One of them asked the victim for something – he could not make out what was said – and then punched him in the face.

The second one was reported in Thorpe Road at around 10.25pm.

The victim, a woman in her 30s, was walking to a supermarket staff car park - understood to be Tescos - when she was approached by two people who tried to snatch her handbag.

However they were unsuccessful in their attempt and ran to a small red Peugeot hatchback and drove off.

The victim was not injured during the incident.

Det Con Samantha Bates, the investigating officer for Melton Police, said: “The first incident happened outside a pub at 10pm and the second a short time later.

“I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in either area at the time and saw a small red hatchback.

“Were you making your way home from an evening out?

“I’m also keen to speak to anyone who saw two people wearing face masks, one of who was wearing a distinctive jacket with orange stripes on the sleeves. “Were they acting in a manner that either seemed unusual or suspicious? Did you see anything last night that caught your attention?

“Any information you have could help my investigation.”

Call police on 101 if you can help, quoting reference 20*542674 (Welby Lane) or 20*542649 (Thorpe Road).