BOCA RATON, Fla. — Police in Boca Raton are warning shoppers to be aware of their surroundings after two recent purse snatchings, including one in a Publix parking lot.
The most recent theft occurred Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of the Palmetto Park Square shopping plaza located at 1279 W Palmetto Park Rd.
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Police said the victim left Publix and was putting groceries in her car just before 4 p.m.
As she walked to the front of her car to get inside, she said a man began running toward her and grabbed her purse. The woman was not hurt.
Investigators said the thief then ran, got into the back of a car and fled the area.
A witness said he saw the purse snatcher get into a rust color Nissan Altima, which left the parking lot and turned west on Palmetto Park Road.
The robber is described as a black man about 18 to 21 years old, around 6 feet tall, wearing dark pants and a gray sweatshirt.
Purse Snatching on Feb. 8
Boca Raton detectives believe this incident may be related to a purse theft that occurred in the same plaza on Feb. 8.
In that case, police said a purse was taken from a woman’s shopping cart while she was loading groceries.
Anyone with information about these cases should call Detective Hanley at 561-338-1344.