Thief steals woman’s purse as her husband suffers seizure

A thief stole a woman’s purse as she looked after her husband who had suffered a seizure, police said.

The 33-year-old woman and her husband were walking their dog on Monday when the man fell ill on the Union Canal towpath in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh. He was put into the recovery position by his wife, who put her jacket under his head.

A man stopped to help the pair but ran off between 8.45am and 9am. The woman discovered her purse had been stolen from her jacket and phoned the police.

Inspector Stevie Dolan said: “This was a sickening and opportunistic theft that took place while the victim was tending to her husband.

“Anyone who was in or around the Union Canal towpath on Monday morning and remembers seeing this male is asked to contact police immediately.”

The suspect is described as white, slim and about 5ft 6ins with light-brown hair. He has two front teeth missing, a scar on his right cheek and was wearing a dark hooded top and grey jogging bottoms with orange stripes.

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.