SEVENTEEN muggings on the streets of Bolton over the last two weeks is 17 too many.

Thugs are clearly making targets of mostly elderly women on "pension days".

And we are not talking about dimly-lit back streets here, but daylight robberies.

We urge people to follow police guidelines in an attempt to combat this crimewave.

And we also urge the courts to be tough on criminals who are convicted of mugging anyone - young or elderly.

Many victims of these cruel offences may never fully recover from their ordeal. Their confidence may be shattered by the muggings.

Those who cause such suffering must be punished severely.

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