Roanoke Police are looking for a man who tried to steal a 72-year-old woman’s purse new year’s eve. Police say it happened on Rutgers Street, in the Crossroads area near Hershberger Road. Another person saw it happen and tried to catch the snatcher, but he got away — without the purse. The woman was cut and bruised a bit, but not seriously hurt.
(Continue reading for the full Roanoke Police news release.)
Roanoke, VA- The Roanoke Police Department is seeking a suspect in an attempted purse snatching that occurred on December 31, 2012. Officers responded 7:26 p.m. to the 5000 block of Rutgers Street. Upon arrival they located the victim, a 72 year old female of Roanoke. The victim stated that a male approached her and attempted to grab her purse off her arm. This caused the victim to fall on the ground. Another individual then chased the suspect from the scene, but was unable to catch him. The victim sustained a cut to her hand and a bruise on her knee. The suspect was unable to take the victim’s purse. He has not been arrested. He is described as a white male, approximately 19 to 20 years of age, five feet five inches tall, weighing approximately 130 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark blue pants. Anyone with information regarding this or other crimes should call the Roanoke Police Department at (540) 853-5959 or Crime Line at (540) 344-8500. Crime Line may offer a monetary reward for any information leading to an arrest in a crime.
