POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two elderly women were attacked and robbed in Pompano Beach within one day of one another, and authorities said both victims were targeted by the same man.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, a 78-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, was arriving home from the grocery store, at around noon on May 10, and was about to enter her house, along the 400 block of Northeast Second Street, when the subject attacked her.
Detectives said the victim was taken by surprise when the suspect yelled, “Give me your purse.” When he pulled the bag off her shoulder, the victim fell to the ground.
She managed to get a glimpse of the subject. “Wearing an orange color shirt and he ran off,” she said, “and I was down on the pavers on my knees.”
Officials said the woman suffered a broken clavicle as well as bruises and abrasions on her hands, knees and ankles.
A good Samaritan then stepped in to help the victim. “A young guy on a bike,” she said. “Happened to be homeless, stopped by, picked me up. Got me into the house.”
She was later taken to the hospital.
Detectives believe on the following day, the same subject attacked 85-year-old Alice Sutherland who was returning to her Pompano Beach home, in the area of 2300 block of South Cypress Bend Drive, after a drugstore run. The suspect snatched her shopping bag and fled.
“I had a yellow bag on my walker,” Sutherland said. “All it had was a newspaper and a bag of pretzels. And he grabbed that and took off.”
That robbery was caught on camera. It shows the suspect as he entered the elevator with Sutherland, at around 1:50 p.m., Thursday, and as she was getting off on her floor, the suspect grabbed the drugstore bag off her arm.
“Walked by the elevator, and he said, ‘Give me your money!'” Sutherland said. “He said, ‘Give me your money,’ and he had a gun. And then he was gone. I screamed! And I have a loud scream. So he took off.”
The two robberies took place nearly five miles away from each other.
Sutherland said now she’s armed in case something like this happens again. “Now I got a whistle! I didn’t have a whistle then,” she said, “and I carry a knife in the cart that I walk with.”
Both victims said they hope the robber is caught soon.
“I just hope they catch him so he doesn’t do this to anybody else,” the 78-year-old said.
Sutherland echoes the other victim’s comment. “I’d like to see him caught, so he doesn’t do it to anybody else,” she said.
Officials said the suspect in both incidents was a tall, thin man who wore an orange shirt with a broad white stripe and shorts.
If you have any information on either robbery, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.