THE TERRIFYING knifepoint mugging of a student in a busy street comes as a new crime map reveals a big rise in robberies across Wanstead and Woodford.

Gemma Thornton, 23, said she not longer feels safe when walking alone in Wanstead at night after she was mugged by a thug who jumped out of a parked taxi in Hermon Hill.

The attack, which took place at about 10.40pm on Friday evening, came just days before police published statistics showing that robberies rose in all but one of the six wards in Wanstead and Woodford between June and August - tripling in Monkhams, nearly doubling in Roding and going up by more than a third in Snaresbrook.

Several high profile muggings in the area around South Woodford Underground Station, including one involving a couple being attacked while pushing their baby along in a buggy, have served to highlight the problem in the west of Redbridge.

In the latest incident a man leapt out of a green estate car parked in Falcon Way and ran up behind Ms Thorton shouting that he had a weapon.

The student, of Wellington Road, said she 'froze in terror' after seeing what she thought was a knife in his hand - and threw her handbag at him in self defence.

The man, who is described as having a Mediterranean appearance with short, dark hair, and speaking broken English, then jumped back into the car which was driven off towards South Woodford by an accomplice.

Ms Thornton - who lost her bank cards, an Oyster Card and £20 in cash during the incident - has warned other women to be on their guard when walking alone after dark.

Her attacker is thought to be of average height and aged about 30. He was wearing a red shirt at the time of the assault.

Detective Superintendent Nick Simpson of Redbridge Police said there does not appear to be a link between the recent robberies, and that the crime figures need to be set in context.

He said: "I am not happy about any crimes being committed, but when you look at these figures we are talking about relatively small rises from say from two point seven muggings a month in Snaresbrook to four a month.

"We have seen a five per cent fall in robberies across the borough as a whole year on year, and there have been no robberies at all in September in Monkhams, Bridge or Church End wards.

"There did seem to be a pattern earlier on in the year around the tube stations, but we increased our presence there and that has stopped now.

"The green estate car involved in this case had a taxi badge on it. If the driver of the car was a genuine taxi driver he may have been an unwitting part of this, and we would like him to come forward to help us.

"I would advise people to be aware of what is around them at all times, to walk in well lit areas and think about buying a good personal alarm."

Anyone with information about the mugging should call DC Bethan Spencer 8345 2681.

To see the new crime maps for Redbridge click here click here