BOCA RATON — Detectives with Boca Raton police are combing through evidence and speaking with witnesses to help identify the person responsible for ripping the purse off a woman’s arm July 5. The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. in the Kmart Plaza parking lot at 1401 West Palmetto Park Road.
Public Information Officer Sandra Boonenberg said the victim, a Kmart employee, was leaving work and walking to her car while talking on her cell phone. She said she noticed someone sitting on the bike rack, but didn’t pay any attention to him.
Moments later, as she was getting into her car, she says the same person grabbed her purse and began pulling it off her arm, Boonenberg said. The victim struggled with the suspect and yelled for help. That’s when the suspect reached into the purse, pulled out the wallet and took off.
Bystanders hearing the commotion began chasing the suspect, but they lost him as he ran up the on-ramp to I-95.
Witnesses found the victim’s wallet and sunglasses in the grassy area of the entrance ramp to the interstate. The victim and witnesses describe the suspect as a white male in his early 50’s with gray hair, about 5’8” tall and weighing about 165 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue shirt and tan cargo shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Juan Carlos Pijuan at (561) 338-1387 or Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS.