NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman was dragged by a vehicle as she struggled with a pair of purse thieves at a gas station in Northwest Miami-Dade on Monday, according to police.
The victim, who did not want to disclose her identity, said she was leaning against her car as she pumped gas at a RaceWay station, at around 2 p.m.
“Because I was tired from work. I had a difficult day,” said the victim through a translator.
Surveillance video showed a car pulling up alongside her vehicle.
Miami-Dade Police said a subject exited the vehicle, opened the victim’s unlocked car door and removed her purse while she fueled up her car.
The victim said she realized something was wrong when she felt her car move. “I saw someone, his whole body inside my car,” she said.
The woman then ran toward the subject, who entered an awaiting vehicle.
As the two struggled over the purse, a second subject accelerated the getaway car and dragged the victim several feet and struck another vehicle.
“She actually got dragged for just a little, and the driver of the vehicle, the other subject, actually crashed,” said Miami-Dade Police Detective Jennifer Capote. “That actually was what saved her from being dragged further or actually even injured.”
The victim recovered her purse, but the two subjects fled with her wallet, according to police.
The victim said she fought to recover her purse. “Because my documentation, my identity was in there, because it was mine,” she said.
The victim said a good Samaritan found her wallet and returned it to her. There was no money in the wallet, but it did contain her ID, as well as some of her keys.
The thieves are described as young men in their late teens or early 20s, and detectives said they drove off in a silver Infiniti.
If you have any information on their whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.