Woman Knocked Down, Robbed Outside Willow Grove Park Mall
ABINGTON, Pa. (CBS) – Police are boosting patrols around malls after a holiday shopper is robbed in Montgomery County.
Police are searching for a suspect who robbed a female shopper at the Willow Grove Park Mall.
Around 8 p.m. on Dec. 16, the female shopper was reportedly knocked to the ground and had her purse stolen as she exited the Macy's onto the second level parking lot at the mall.
The 66-year-old victim told police the suspect came up behind her and pushed her to the ground, injuring her nose, mouth, lips, teeth, hands and knees.
"She was knocked down from behind. Consequently she didn't get a good look at the person who did it. She went down. She had her pocketbook over her shoulder, it was ripped off of her shoulder and the suspect got away on foot," Dep. Chief John Livingood of Abington Township Police said.
She was transported to Abington Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Shortly thereafter, one of the victim's credit cards was used at a Wawa on Moreland Road by a man in a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt who was captured by surveillance cameras.
The suspect reportedly arrived at the Wawa as a passenger in a maroon late 90s to early 2000s four door sedan.
"This is an extremely rare incident up here. We never have this kind of crime and that's the reason we are extremely anxious to catch this individual," Livingood said.
Until that happens, shoppers are shaken, but vigilant about their safety.
"I know because of what I heard about here on Monday, I won't have a bag revealed," shopper Helen Faggins-Jones said. "And usually I carry a bag with a million things in it and I only have what I need."
"It seems safe, but I guess you never know with the holidays. So it's best to try to have somebody with you," shopper Shontay Lee said.
Police are urging shoppers to be aware of their surroundings especially during this holiday shopping season.
Meantime they do believe this suspect is local as he has apparently been using the stolen credit cards in nearby Horsham as well.
Abington Police are asking that anyone with information call police at 267-536-1100 or submit a tip at www.abingtonpd.org.
