A woman in her 20s needed hospital treatment after being attacked by a knife-wielding robber near a Tube station in south west London.
The victim was walking on Franciscan Road in Tooting, when she was approached by the man who attempted to rob her.
He attacked her and, according to local reports, he only fled when neighbours nearby heard her screaming.
The attacker then fled on foot. The woman was taken to hospital but avoided serious injury.
In a statement the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at approximately 6.10pm on Thursday, 14 December to reports of an attempted robbery and assault in Franciscan Road, SW17.
"A woman, aged in her 20s, was walking when she was approached by a man in possession of a knife who attempted to rob her. The man threatened the woman and assaulted her before running off.
"The woman was not seriously injured and nothing was taken during the incident. "There have been no arrests and enquiries into the circumstances continue."
