Tampa, Fla. (970 WFLA)- Police are searching for two suspects who worked together in an attempt to snatch a woman's purse - an attempt that took a very dangerous turn.
On September 20 at approximately 7:36 p.m. the victim had completed her shopping at the Publix at 1313 S Dale Mabry Highway and was in the front of the store waiting for the rain to subside. Her purse was sitting in the child seat compartment of the cart.
The suspect was seen talking on a cell phone just inside the store as the victim, wearing a red jersey, exited the store. As the victim was waiting outside, the suspect exited the store from behind her, grabbed her purse from the grocery cart, and jumped into the passenger side of a car waiting nearby.
The victim immediately chased after the suspect and within seconds she caught up with him before he could close the passenger side door. The victim reached inside the car and grabbed her purse from the suspect while the car began pulling away. The victim was dragged for a short distance, sustaining abrasions to her knees and her arm. She declined medical attention. She was able to retrieve her purse.
The suspect is a white male, with short blondish-red hair, approximately 25-30 years old, weighing between 150 and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, green-camouflage board shorts, and sandals.
The other suspect who entered the store with the man, and likely drove the get-away car, is a white woman with shoulder length bright red hair, 25 to 35 years old, weighing between 150 and 175 pounds. She was seen wearing a black T-shirt, red-pink pants, and sandals.
If you recognize the suspect in the video, please call Crime Stoppers Of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS.
Story and Video credit:Tampa Police