Hunt for man who tried to steal woman's dog in East Kilbride before attacking her

A hunt has been launched after a woman was attacked by a man who tried to steal her dog.

The 66-year-old woman was walking in a wooded area near to Benbecula Park, Calderglen Road, in East Kilbride between 10.30am and 11am on Friday.

She was approached by a man who tried to take her dog and then assaulted her.

The woman did not require medical treatment and managed to hold onto her dog but was shaken and alarmed by the incident, detectives said.

Officers are keen to trace a man described as 5ft 8in, in his 30s, with a long brown beard, wearing a navy-blue bandana and black clothing. He had a small white and tan coloured dog with him.

After the incident, he got into a black coloured Ford Transit van parked on Benbecula, which drove towards Calderwood Road.

Detective constable Sarah McNeil of Lanarkshire’s criminal investigation department said: “This appears to be an attempt to rob the woman of her dog, and it is vital that we establish the full circumstances of what happened and trace the man responsible.

“I would like to speak to anyone who was in the area around 10.30pm to 11pm on Friday who saw or heard anything suspicious.

“Similarly, anyone with private CCTV, doorbell footage or dashcam of the area is urged to review the footage and bring anything significant to our attention.”

Anyone with information can contact 101 quoting reference 1811 of December 1. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.