Boca Raton, FL – The most recent crime happened on Tuesday, July 17 at about 5:40 p.m., when Boca Raton Police officers responded to a robbery that occurred in the parking lot of Palmetto Park Square, 1339 West Palmetto Park Road.
The victim told officers she was walking in the parking lot when a male approached her from behind, grabbed her purse, and pushed her. The suspect ran to a waiting newer model, grey, four-door Mazda 3 and got into the passenger side. The vehicle left the parking lot and headed west on Palmetto Park Road. The suspect is described as a light skinned black male, in his 20’s, about 5’5” tall, thin, with shoulder length dreadlocks. He was wearing blue jeans and a white, zip-up hoodie. The victim was not injured.
In the last few months, there have been five incidents in which purses were taken from victims by force and two thefts in which purses were taken from shopping carts. Derrick Ivery was arrested for a May 2nd robbery, which occurred in this plaza.
Boca Raton Police officers have increased both marked and unmarked patrols in the shopping plaza. Members of the Crime Prevention Unit are passing out flyers to the stores and speaking directly to store owners and employees. The property owner is working with police to beef up security.
Shoppers are encouraged to be alert and to report any suspicious persons or vehicles to police. Purses should never be left unattended, even for a few seconds.
If anyone has information about any of these crimes, they are asked to call Detective Scott Hanley at (561) 338-1344 or Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS.