THE chair of a Helensburgh community group says there are no plans for a “vigilante-style” response after a woman was robbed in the street.

A quantity of cash was stolen from a woman walking in Ben Bouie Drive in Kirkmichael on the night of Hallowe’en.

Following the incident, a post on the Kirkmichael Community Development Group’s Facebook page appealed for the help of local residents interested in setting up a rota to walk the streets at night.

But the group’s chair, Liz Simpson, says the idea is about protecting people, particularly young people, living in the area.

Liz said: “This is the first incident we’ve had in the Kirkmichael area in a very long time but we wanted to know whether parents would be interested in a rota to walk around the area at night.

“It’s not about vigilante-ism, but there are young people living locally who do walk around in the area – and though they’re not looking for trouble, we want to keep an eye out to make sure trouble doesn’t find them.”

A police spokesperson said: “Around 8pm on Wednesday, October 31, a 40-year-old woman was walking in Ben Bouie Drive, near to Buchanan Road when she was approached by two males who stole a quantity of cash from her.

“Both males are in their mid-20s, five feet six inches tall, wearing dark coloured clothing with their hoods up. They made off in the direction of Stuckleckie Road.

“There were a number of families out ‘guising’ in the area at the time and anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police on 101.

“This is the first incident of this nature in some time and police are keen to identify the culprits at the earliest opportunity.”