A TEENAGER was grabbed by the neck and pushed into a door in a robbery outside a shop in Weymouth.

Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened outside the old Costcutter on Portland Road.

Officers said the victim, a 17-year-old local boy, got off the number one bus from Portland by Costcutter on Portland Road at about 6.15pm on Sunday, August 17.

They said the young man walked to the site of the former Costcutter and on reaching the door of the store he saw a notice stating the shop had closed down, but as he turned around a hooded person stood in front of him.

Without saying anything the offender grabbed the boy by the neck and chin and pushed his face upward, which in turn pushed him against the shop door.

The offender then searched the left hip pocket of the victim's coat with his right hand and removed a pair of blue and black Sennheiser earphones and a day bus ticket.

The victim spoke to the offender but the person remained silent, officers said. The victim never saw the offender’s face and cannot say whether this was a man or a woman.

The offender is described as five feet ten inches tall and of slim build and was wearing silver or grey jogging bottoms and a black Nike hooded top, with two thick orange stripes down the length of the sleeves and a zip-up pocket on the right bicep area.

Police Constable Rob Hoskins, of Weymouth police, said: “The victim feared he was going to get hurt or lose more of his belongings so he punched the offender to the left side of the jaw. This made the offender stumble, groan and run off toward Portland.

“I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or has any details about the person responsible as they may recognise the description. Anyone with information that could assist my investigation should contact Dorset Police.”

Community safety spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Mike Goodman, urged people to contact the police with information if they knew anything.

He added: “I don’t know the details of the incident but I would hope that people come forward if they can help the police. Street robberies are not a common occurrence in Weymouth.”

Bobs Kershaw, 58, who runs craft shop Bits and Bobs next door to the former Costcutter, said she provided CCTV footage to the police.

Mrs Kershaw, said: “It is worrying, of course. Before I opened the shop in April there has been a lot of petty crime in this forecourt area. Anything that can be done to help reduce these sorts of incidents would be good.”

Debbie Smith, 46, who owns Fresh Bites on Portland Road said she wasn't aware of the incident.

Mrs Smith said: “It's concerning, absolutely, because it could be one of our kids. There's three shops here that open 'til late and it's a busy road, so it is surprising.”

A resident of Portland Road, who did not wish to be named, said: “A policeman came to ask us questions but until then we didn't know anything about it. It's quite scary. I'm surprised because it happened in broad daylight.”

Anyone with information about the robbery should call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 17:365.