The first happened between 3pm and 3.20pm as a 20-year-old woman made her way home from Telford train station towards the back of Euston Way pub.
As she started walking up the steps she was grabbed around her face and throat from behind. A man demanded the woman hand over her phone. The woman tried to punch and kick the assailant but lost her balance and fell to the floor. The man leaned over and put his knee onto the woman’s neck. He demanded her phone again and some money. He took the woman’s phone from her pocket, after she told him where it was, and ran back down the steps. He made off on a bike towards Telford railway station.
She suffered slight grazing and bruising but did not require any medical treatment.
A short time later, between 3.30pm and 4.15pm, a 15 year-old boy was walking along waste ground at the back of Ashbourne Close in Dawley, locally known as The Mount, when an unknown person on a bike shouted him. As he approached, the male on the bike stopped and asked the boy the time. As he checked his mobile telephone for the time he was punched to the face. The offender then stole the teenager’s phone and went through his pockets and stole £20. He left in the direction of Lancaster Avenue on his bike.
Police believe the two robberies may be linked and are appealing for information.
Detective Constable Steve Parton of Telford CID said: “The victims have helped us to compile a good image of the offender and we would ask people to study the picture and description and let us know if they have any idea who this male is.
“We also want to hear from anyone else who has any information in relation to either of the robberies. If you were in the area by Telford railway station or The Mount and saw anything that could help us with our enquiries, please come forward and speak to us.”
The offender is described as white, aged 17 to 18, of slim build with light coloured hair which is shaven or very close cropped at the sides and longer on top. He is described as around 5ft 8ins to 6ft tall with blue eyes and spoke with a local accent.
He was wearing a navy blue Adidas style tracksuit with white stripes down the arms and legs. He also had on a horizontal striped T-shirt, with the predominant colour being blue. He was wearing white training shoes with blue stripes on them. He was riding a black full sized gentleman’s model mountain bike, which was possibly coloured black.
Anyone with information in relation to the enquiry should contact Telford Police on 0300 333 3000. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.