Police seek help in identifying man who snatched purse from woman, 76

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Pinos at 49 Massabesic St. File Photo

MANCHESTER, NH – Police are looking for a young man who yanked a shoulder bag from an elderly woman outside a neighborhood restaurant Saturday morning.

On March 10, 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m. police responded to the intersection of Massabesic and Spruce streets for a report of a robbery. Officers Fierimonte and Nesbitt met with the victim, a 76-year-old woman, who stated that she had just eaten breakfast at Pindos and was walking north on Massabesic Street toward her car. The sidewalk path was narrow due to the recent snowfall. She said she noticed a man walking on the sidewalk in her direction.

The woman told police she decided to move over up against the building and allow the man to pass. However, when the man got close to her he grabbed her black purse and ripped it off of her shoulder and out of her hands, which caused her to be thrown to the ground, striking her head and her knee on the sidewalk.

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After the purse-snatching, the woman said she saw the man run easterly on Spruce Street. She got up and attempted to chase him, however she lost sight of him in the area of Belmont Street. The woman told police that shortly after losing sight of him, a gray station wagon pulled onto Massabesic Street from Belmont Street heading southerly. Police don’t know at this time if there’s a connection to the purse-snatcher. Police dogs were used to search the area, but returned no results.

The woman told police that there were multiple personal items in her purse including her identification, credit cards, cell phone and cash.

During the investigation Officers Fierimonte and Nesbitt observed that there were cameras on a building located in the area. The footage shows the unknown male grabbing the purse and throwing the victim to the ground. The suspect in the video is described as a white male, late 20s to early 30s, wearing dark baggy jeans, a black hooded sweatshirt with a red shirt over it bearing a white logo on the front.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Manchester Police Department at 603-668-8711. No clear image of the man was immediately available. The video footage is evidence and could not be shared at this time, police said.

 

 

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!