'You're Not Getting My Coach!': Woman Fights Back Against Drive-By Purse Snatchers Targeting Shoppers On Staten Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A brazen bandit is plucking purses off of unsuspecting people on Staten Island.
Police say there have been four incidents Wednesday and Thursday in the parking lots of Stop & Shop and JCPenney. The description of one of the bandits is consistent throughout, police said.
One of the victims, a woman named Helene C., spoke exclusively to CBS2's Marc Liverman.
"He grabs me, grabs my shoulder bag. We played tug of war, fighting me for my bag. I broke it off him though and within a minute after called 911."
It all happened in the Staten Island Mall parking lot in the New Springville section. Cars and shoppers were everywhere.
Helene didn't want to reveal her last name but she told Liverman she was walking from JCPenney back to her car Wednesday afternoon. That's when a car started slowly driving behind her.
"I waved him around to go around me, but he didn't. So I guess maybe he was just going slow looking for parking, I didn't think nothing of it," she said.
The man started driving even closer with his window down. All of a sudden, he grabbed the 26-year-old's purse while still driving the car. But Helene didn't let him get away. She fought him off.
"He probably thought he was gonna get over and I wasn't gonna fight back, but I did," she said. "You're not getting my Coach."
Luckily she wasn't hurt. It all happened fast, but Helene says he got a good look at the man.
"Clean cut, between 50 and 60 years old, no facial hair, prescription glasses," she said.
Police think he's the same man who has snatched at least three other women's purses within just two days, including one Thursday night when a woman wsas walking out of Macy's. Police say that woman was pushed to the ground before her handbag was snatched and the car drove off toward Marsh Avenue.
"He's a coward. Any man that goes after women or a woman by herself is a coward," Helene said. "I'm just happy I didn't have my son with me because God only knows what could have happened.
Police are now on high alert in the area, pulling over cars and questioning drivers. They're reminding women to be extra cautious.
"I'm always cautious. My face is never buried in my phone. I'm never buried with headphones," Helene said.
She's even stopping to wave passing cars around her, at least until that suspect is caught.
