A visiting couple were robbed of a pink handbag yesterday afternoon by a man wielding a hammer on the Railway Trail in Sandys.

Detectives are investigating the incident, which took place near the Heydon Trust property between Somerset Bridge and Sound View Road at about 1.30pm.

A police spokesman said the couple were walking along the trail “when they were accosted by an unknown male apparently brandishing a hammer”.

He added: “The female visitor’s pink ‘leather-looking’ handbag was taken by the perpetrator, who escaped on foot, despite being pursued by the visitors.”

The spokesman added that the couple were not injured and that the bag was said to contain cash and a cellphone.

“The offender, believed to be aged 16 or 17, was described as a light-complexioned black male wearing a white T-shirt and khaki pants, the bottom of which were below the knee.”

Investigators would like to speak with anyone who may have seen the described culprit.

Witnesses or persons with relevant information should contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 295-0011 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-8477.