Woman hit over head with spanner during robbery
A YOUNG woman was smashed over the head with a spanner before thieves took off with her handbag during a violent robbery in Townsville.
Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said police had identified a person of interest over the attack at 1.30am on Saturday.
He said a woman visiting Townsville from Mount Isa was attacked by two individuals in a stolen vehicle.
“A 27-year-old woman was walking from Flinders Street back to where she was staying at the Hotel Allen,” Detective Inspector Shepherd said.
“A stolen car has pulled up, a white Toyota Trailblazer and two offenders have got out and they’ve tried to steal her handbag.
“One of the offenders has then used some sort of tool, we think maybe a spanner and has hit her on the head with it.”
The two offenders then took the woman’s handbag and returned to the stolen car before fleeing the scene.
The woman, who was bleeding from her head wound, walked from Mcdonalds on Eyre Street — where the robbery occurred — to the Hotel Allen before calling police.
The woman received several stitches to her head.
The woman’s handbag and the stolen car were both recovered in Garbutt later that afternoon.
The woman’s mobile phone was found in a separate location after police used the Find My Phone app to track it down.
“We do have one suspect, a 22-year-old male, who our Townsville Tactical Crime Squad and Rapid Action Patrols are out looking for him at the moment,” Detective spector Shepherd said.
Anyone with information should contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24 hours per day. You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24
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