NYPD: Brooklyn Suspect Snatched Purse From Elderly, Wheelchair-Bound Woman
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Brooklyn are looking to track down a suspect wanted for stealing the purse of an elderly wheelchair-bound woman.
Authorities said the incident took place at the corner of Wyckoff Avenue and Bleecker Street in Bushwick on Wednesday, July 20, shortly after 1 p.m.
A video was released by police in which it appears the suspect -- described as a white male approximately 6-foot and 180 pounds -- first walks past the 78-year-old victim riding in her motorized wheelchair before turning around, snatching the purse and running off in the opposite direction.
Police said the suspect was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and dark colored shorts with a white stripe.
CBS 2's Sean Hennessey showed the video to the victim's neighbors and they were quickly beside themselves.
"It's an atrocity," Melissa Medina said.
"It's really upsetting when you hear something like that, especially about a woman in a wheelchair. How could somebody do something like that?" Sheena Chatarpal added.
The callousness of the crime sickened others.
"I think it's really sad what some people will do when they're desperate, especially when they'll pick on someone so incapacitated and unable to help themselves. You feel bad. It hurts your heart to see that," Nicole Ouzounis said.
The elderly victim was unhurt but left without her purse and everything inside it.
"You wouldn't like that done to your family so why would you do that to someone else? It's low lives." Paul Quintera said.
"She can't defend herself and it's just sad. People have no heart to anything for someone to do something evil like that," Marlena Gomez added.
The neighbors said it was evil with an obvious motive, an easy crime of opportunity.
"There's no remorse, obviously. I can't believe it," Kami Singh said.
One woman told Hennessey the guy looked familiar and given the quality of the video, others may feel the same so it shouldn't be too long until police zero in on this remorseless thief.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.
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