POLICE in Harlow are warning people not to walk around with expensive phones in their hand after a young girl told police that a man punched her in the arm and stole her phone.

The 13-year-old girl was walking along the cycle path near to Hookfield around 9pm yesterday evening (January 19) when she was approached by a man in his late twenties wearing a dark jacket, dark trousers and black boots. He punched the victim on the arm causing reddening, which also made her drop a white Apple IPhone 4. He then picked up the phone up and ran off in the Hookfield direction.

Dc Mike Ferguson who is investigating said: “I am appealing for any witnesses to the incident or anyone with any knowledge about the phone, which is quite distinctive as it has a crack down the middle of the screen.” Anyone with information is asked to call Dc Ferguson at Harlow CID on 101.