RSSWitness to purse-snatching leads police to suspects
Yakima Herald-Republic
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A woman whose purse was snatched in the Wal-Mart parking lot Monday wasn’t without it for long, thanks to help from a passing motorist.
Yakima police arrested two juvenile males, one 15 and one 17, shortly after the robbery on the east side of the Wal-Mart lot.
A passing driver who saw the suspects grab the 69-year-old woman’s purse called police as he followed the younger juvenile to Sarg Hubbard Park.
Capt. Greg Copeland said the boy with the purse then ran from the park back toward Wal-Mart, near where the victim was, and dropped the purse, which the witness retrieved.
Soon after officers arrived, they found one juvenile hiding in a bathroom at the Mazda dealership next to Wal-Mart. The other suspect had run across Terrace Heights Drive and was arrested there.
Both teens were booked at the juvenile detention center on suspicion of first-degree robbery.
Copeland said there is no connection between Monday’s robbery and another incident Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of the Wray’s grocery store at 56th and Summitview avenues. In that incident, two suspects approached a 66-year-old woman who was loading groceries into her car, knocked her to the ground and took her purse. No arrests have been made.
Although there were two purse-snatchings in three days and the circumstances were similar, Copeland said this type of crime is infrequent in Yakima.
“It happens once in a while,” he said, acknowledging that such robberies generate more sympathy when the victims are vulnerable, elderly women.
“It’s not a common thing,” he added.
Although there were two purse-snatchings in three days and the circumstances were similar, Copeland said this type of crime is infrequent in Yakima.
Hmmmm...If my memory serves me right...a woman was attacked in Safeways parking lot and another woman was attacked in Shoko's parking lot, (off of Summitview and 56th), about 6 months ago. Seems frequent enough for me. Word of advice for women of all ages...quit carrying a purse. Put your debit/credit cards/cash/license in a small flat change purse. Before getting out of your car, slip the SMALL purse in your jacket pocket, or waist band of your jeans, etc(out of sight). This allows you to have both hands free making you less of a target and better able to defend yourself against an attacker. Times have changed...it's not safe to carry a purse...learn ways to adapt and survive in this un-safe society. Take your safety in your own hands first and pray for the best second.
...And a lady died as result of her injuries in a similar attack at Albertsons on 40th. So now what? These kids get a parking ticket?
Wal~Mart has security in their parking lot. If Wrays want to compete they will need to provide better service and a safe environment for their customers. Instead of asking customers if they want help with their groceries they should just do it.
Travel in pairs,,,,,both armed and licensed
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