UPDATE 2/27/13: KIRO 7 has this video of the suspect.
UPDATE (2/26/13 @ 2:30pm): Seattle Police have tweeted that one person has been taken into custody after an attempted, armed purse-snatching at 71st and Roosevelt. More details to come.
UPDATE (2/25/13): Yet another purse snatching occurred on Monday in the middle of the afternoon. We received this from Terrie Johnston with the SPD North Precinct:
“This afternoon at 2:45 in the 7000 block of 35 Ave. NE, an elderly, developmentally disabled female was walking home from the Wedgwood Safeway and the suspect ran up behind her and removed her purse over her head. He then ran off eastbound. There were no weapons seen, and no suspect was located despite immediate response from several patrol units. The description we got was white male, 20’s, 5’8” and skinny.”
ORIGINAL POST:
Another purse-snatching occurred on Friday afternoon, February 22 — this one in the Roosevelt area, also in broad daylight, as two earlier ones were.
There are things you can do to prevent a purse-snatching, and also things you can do in case you are robbed of your purse or wallet.
REMEMBER: Your life is more valuable than your purse.
The basics:
- Stay alert to your surroundings.
- Shop during the day when possible. Walk in a group when you can. Avoid hedges and other hiding places.
- When shopping after dark, do so with a friend or family member.
- Dress casually and comfortably in clothes/shoes that will let you move easily.
- Walk confidently and steadily.
- If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, don’t be afraid to shout or scream. Some suggest shouting “Call 9-1-1 now!”
- Be aware that wearing earpods and/or talking on the phone or texting may both block out warning sounds around you and indicate that you might be distracted.
- Leave expensive jewelry at home.
- Always carry a government-issued photo driver’s license or identification card.
- Carry only cash, checks and/or a credit card necessary for that day. (Even losing membership / frequent-buyer cards can be a pain.)
- Avoid being overloaded with packages.
- Trust your instincts — If you feel threatened, get out of the situation and call 9-1-1 if necessary.
- Park in a well-lighted space, be certain the car is locked, and the windows are closed; store shopping bags and packages in the trunk.
- Check around you before you get into your car and lock the doors immediately.
- Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
And a final practical note:
In some protected — preferably passworded — location at home, list all your credit cards with the phone numbers you will need to call in case that card is lost or stolen. You’ll thank yourself.