Morecambe police are appealing for information after two brothers with learning difficulties had a digital camera and two mobile phones stolen from them on a day trip to the town.
The two brothers, aged 22 and 25, who were in the county on a day trip from Stoke-on-Trent, were walking down the cycle path from Lancaster into Morecambe between 10.30 and 11.00am yesterday morning (Monday 18th April 2011).
As they approached the River Lune at Ryelands, a man approached them and began to walk with them, asking them questions. After about three quarters of a mile, around the ASDA store, near to the Ovangle Road Bridge, the man demanded that they handed over their digital camera and their mobile phones.
The man suggested that he may have had a knife in his pocket and even though the knife was never seen, the two brothers handed over the items and the man ran from them towards Lancaster.
The man, who spoke with a local accent, is described as a white, in his late 20’s to early 30’s, about 6 feet tall and of slim build. He dark short hair and was wearing a black jumper.
“We believe that these two men were targeted because they have learning difficulties and were vulnerable,” notes PC Nicola Parker of Morecambe Police, “and we are extremely keen to trace the person responsible for stealing from them.
“Due to the time of day that this took place and because the weather was nice, I would expect the cycle track to have been quite busy, so I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time to contact us if they saw anything or if they have any information.”
• Anyone with any information can contact police on 08451 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.