A pensioner broke her arm and injured her hip when a teenager snatched her handbag and pulled her to the floor.
The thief wrenched the bag, containing the 70-year-old's Christmas savings, from her shoulder.
She had been walking in Borough Street, Brighton, at 5pm on Saturday, when the thief struck.
She was taken to hospital for an operation to correct her broken arm.
The thief was described as white, of medium build, aged between 15 to 16 years old. He was wearing a black or navy "beanie" hat.
He made off on foot in the direction of Norfolk Square.
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