COOPER CITY, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman who was loading groceries into the trunk of her car became a target for a purse thief in Cooper City.
Surveillance cameras outside a Wal-Mart in the area of Flamingo and Griffin Road caught the scene as the victim loaded up her groceries around 5:30 p.m., July 29.
“I’ve done that walk many times, and even though I was aware of my surroundings, it happened to me that quickly,” said the victim, who asked not to be identified.
She said she had placed her purse inside her shopping cart while loading her groceries into the back of her car.
“When I turned to get a bag, I saw a hand come around and grab my purse. I yelled, ‘No!’ I turned, and when I turned, I saw him jump into the back of the getaway car,” she said. “I had ahold of my purse, and he kicked me several times in the chest.”
That was when, according to the victim, she finally let go. Surveillance video showed her tumbling to the ground. Bruises from the fall are still visible two weeks later.
“It seemed like forever, but I believe [the robbery] was like 15 seconds,” said the victim.
She suffered injuries to her knees and elbows.
“At that moment, you don’t know if you have the nerve to do anything, you freeze,” one shopper said. “She reacted. That reaction could have killed her.”
The video showed the purse snatcher exiting a black car before grabbing the victim’s bag and running back. The driver of that car then peeled off.
“She was able to hang on to her purse, and in order for them to make their escape, the thieves decided to commence kicking her,” said Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Gina Carter. “They kicked her several times in the chest. She finally fell back. She was actually injured during this attack.”
Police said, about an hour later, a man could be seen getting out of a dark colored Hyundai at another Wal-Mart to use one of the victim’s credit cards to buy a Playstation. The man walked out empty-handed. “This shows the man very clearly. We’re hoping someone can identify him and give us the information we need to find this whole group of men,” Carter said.
The victim’s keys were found in the middle of the street along Pine Island and Sterling Road.
Other shoppers said attacks like this is something they will think about more. “I have my keys ready, and I always have a little knife or something,” said one shopper.
“That’s why I wear my purse that way because it’s safer for me,” said shopper Sylvie Paquet. “At least they can do anything they want, but I feel that it’s more safe.”
The victim said she would like to continue shopping in peace.
“Why don’t they just live their lives and leave us alone? Nobody should rob anybody,” she said.
Police are looking for the subject. If you have any information on this theft, 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.
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