DETECTIVES are seeking the public’s help to identify a man believed to be responsible for three robberies and an attempted robbery in a Kent town over the past two weeks.

In each case a man described as white, young, between 5ft 4in to 6ft tall, of thin build, with short hair, has run up behind the victim and snatched their handbag.

All of the robberies happened at about noon in Whitstable.

On November 13 a 72-year-old woman was robbed of her handbag, containing keys and a purse, on St Annes Road. During the robbery she was knocked off her feet and suffered a sore arm.

On Wednesday, a man ran up behind a 78-year-old woman travelling along Bridgefield Road on her mobility scooter, shoved her and stole her handbag, containing bank cards, keys and cash.

Then on Thursday another 78-year-old woman had her handbag, containing cards and keys, snatched from her while at the junction of Northdown Road and Castle Road.

In the fourth incident, which also took place on Thursday, a man ran up behind a 43-year-old woman at the junction of Tankerton High Street and Pier Avenue and grabbed her handbag, causing the woman to fall over and bang her knee and head.

However, the woman held onto her handbag and the man ran off empty handed.

Detectives believe the same man is responsible for the robberies.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01227 868295 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.