POLICE are hunting for a thief who stole a woman’s handbag in broad daylight.

The mugging took place at around 4.25pm on Sunday, June 26, when a 49-year-old woman was walking along a footpath between Queen Mary Avenue and Jefferson Road in South View Basingstoke.

Officers reported that a man approached the woman before running off with her handbag - which is described as being black in colour with a set of large cat’s eyes on the side.

The man is described as white, aged between 20 and 25 years-old, about 5ft 6ins tall and of skinny build with drawn-in facial features.

He had short, mousy-brown hair which was slightly spiky on top, and wore light grey tracksuit bottoms and a black, short-sleeved t-shirt.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the incident, or who recognises the man from the description given, to call Basingstoke CID on 101 quoting 44160238202.