Authorities in the Scottish Borders are urgently seeking witnesses and information related to an attempted robbery that occurred in the Galashiels area. The incident unfolded at approximately 12.45am on Friday, September 8, 2023, in the vicinity of the junction of Hill Street and Croft Street.

The victim, a 41-year-old woman, was walking her dog when she was suddenly confronted and threatened by an unidentified man. Although the woman was fortunate to escape physical harm, she was understandably left shaken by the alarming encounter.

The assailant’s actions took a swift turn when the victim’s loyal dog reacted to the threat by barking loudly. Startled by the dog’s response, the man hastily fled the area. Descriptions of the suspect have been provided to aid the ongoing investigation. He is described as a white male in his 30s, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a stocky build and short dark hair. During the incident, he was wearing a grey jumper and grey shorts adorned with stripes down the side. Witnesses also noted that he spoke with a Scottish accent.

Detective Constable Claire White, leading the investigation, expressed empathy for the victim’s ordeal, stating, “This was understandably a frightening incident for the victim, who should have been able to walk the streets with her dog without fear of being attacked.”

Law enforcement is actively conducting extensive inquiries to identify and locate the individual responsible for this disturbing incident. They are urging anyone who was in the vicinity at the time of the incident or may possess private CCTV, video doorbell, or dashcam footage to come forward and assist with the investigation.

Members of the public who can provide information that might help in identifying the suspect are urged to contact the police at 101, quoting incident reference number 0120 of September 8, 2023. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers can be reached at 0800 555 111.