Police are surprised at the audacity of two muggers who struck during peak evening rush hour outside East Croydon Station on Wednesday.
The men tried and failed to steal a mobile phone from a young woman at 6pm on October 17, while surrounded by people gathered outside the station and tram stop on George Street.
As the 28-year-old victim kept a tight hold of the phone, she was thrown to the floor and left with cuts and bruises on her head and elbow.
A police spokesman said: "According to one witness several onlookers tried to intervene and one of the assailants was reported to have hit out at them.
"This is an audacious attack - these men obviously did not expect to be stopped despite the fact the area is heavily covered by CCTV."
The men were black, around 6ft tall and aged about 20.
The victim was said to have been in shock after the attack but declined medical treatment.
Contact DS Demetriou at South Norwood Robbery Squad on 020 8649 1217.
October 23, 2001 17:00
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