Man tries to steal dog from woman in East Kilbride before assaulting her

The 66-year-old woman was walking in a wooded area near to Benbecula Park, Calderglen Road on December 1 when she was approached by a man who tried to take her dog and then assaulted her.

Detectives in East Kilbride are appealing for information after a man tried to steal a dog from a woman before assaulting her.

The 66-year-old woman was walking in a wooded area near to Benbecula Park, Calderglen Road, between 10.30am and 11am on Friday, December 1, when she was approached by a man who tried to take her dog and then assaulted her.

She did not require medical treatment and managed to hold onto her dog but was shaken and alarmed by the incident.

Officers are keen to trace a man described as 5’ 8”, in his mid-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 CID, 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 11am 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 should contact 101 quoting reference 1811 of 1 December. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.