Aldridge town centre – generally a safe place to shop.

This is a nasty one – if anyone has any information, please do come forward and contact Walsall Police or Crimestoppers – on Friday afternoon, 11th July 2014, a 17 year old lad with physical and learning difficulties was robbed in Aldridge of his mobile phone by four youths.

Today (2nd August 2014) West Midlands Police issued the following press release:

Vulnerable lad assaulted and robbed near Walsall chip shop

Saturday 2 August 2014

Police are appealing for help in tracing youths who targeted a vulnerable 17-year-old lad by assaulting and robbing him as he walked in Aldridge Town Centre.

The lad, who has physical and learning disabilities, was approached between 3.30-4pm on Friday 11 July near to the Aldridge Chip Shop on Anchorage Road, by four white males wearing hoodies.

The youths befriended him and led him to Anchor Meadow Playing Fields just off Aldridge Bypass. They then took him to a secluded part of the field, before pulling him to the floor and searching him before stealing his iPhone.

DC Karl Schild from Walsall CID said: “This was a cowardly attack on a young vulnerable man who suffers from a number of physical disabilities which I believe led him to be targeted and taken advantage of by this group of youths. During the robbery he hurt his knee and ankle and had to go to hospital to be checked.

‘I would appeal for anyone who may have seen these youths or anyone who has information about this robbery to contact police on 101.’

The offenders are described as four youths aged 14-15, wearing Adidas clothing, a black coat and grey tracksuit bottoms. They ran off towards the Red House area.

This is a despicable attack. Please, please, if you know anything about the people who did this please call the police on 101, or Contact them online. You can also call Crimestoppers in confidence.