A POSTMAN and a postwoman were robbed on their rounds just minutes apart.

In the unusual muggings yesterday morning the thieves stole the victims’ delivery bags.

In the first theft two masked men attacked a 40-year-old postman in an alleyway off Gramfield Road in Crosland Moor at 10.45am.

They punched him to the ground, stole his bag and fled.

The victim was not badly hurt.

Just 20 minutes later the postwoman was attacked on Cowlersley Lane in Cowlersley.

Two men grabbed the 37-year-old, wrenched the bag from her grasp and ran off towards nearby Manchester Road.

Det Con Russ Conlon, of Kirklees CID intelligence unit, said: “These are unusual crimes and clearly linked. The postal service is a vital part of everyday life and we would appeal for anyone who has any information about who is responsible for these robberies to contact us immediately.

“One of the thieves was carrying a red towel, which would have made him distinctive if he still had it after he had taken his mask off.’’

One of the men is white or mixed race and 5ft 11in tall with dark eyes. He wore a black balaclava, a blue or black bomber jacket and carried the red towel.

Contact CID on 01484 436685 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.