Hollywood Police Searching For Attempted Purse Snatchers
HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) - Hollywood police are stepping up patrols after a number of purse snatchings near Young Circle in the vicinity of downtown.
One of the robberies was captured on surveillance and shows two young men on bicycles sneak up behind two women who are walking a dog. It happened Thursday, May 8 at 11:30 p.m along South 19th Avenue between Van Buren and Jackson Streets.
On the surveillance you can see one of the assailants tries to grab a purse. She tries to hold on and the attacker starts dragging the woman into the street.
Her friend is right behind trying to intervene. But the thief is relentless and is seen punching and kicking the victim. Finally her friend falls to the ground and the assailant drags the woman with the purse to the curb. He's seen on surveillance pedaling away with his accomplice.
The victims were treated and released from the hospital.
Maria Cortes heard the commotion from her apartment window.
"I looked down and it was right in front of me. I started crying. The victims were really crying and shaking. They were trying to give information to police while the paramedics were attending to their wounds."
Three days before that purse snatching, another woman was robbed along the same streets.
The victim who asked CBS 4 'not' to use her name says she too was approached by young men on bicycles.
"I screamed and ran and it was a terrifying experience. Especially living here. This is your home and you want to be safe."
She says her purse and cell phone were stolen but she escaped unharmed.
"If I had put up a fight I could have gotten hurt. I feel horrible for those girls," she says about the other incident.
Hollywood police say if you have information call Crime Stoppers (954) 493-TIPS.
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