SAN GABRIEL >> Police are seeking a man on a bicycle who snatched a woman’s purse Wednesday, and possibly several others in the same area recent days, officials said.
The most recent robbery took place about 7:20 p.m. at Valley Boulevard and Palm Avenue, San Gabriel police Lt. Fabian Valdez said.
A woman in her 60s was walking down the street when a man on a bike rode past, grabbed her Coach purse from her shoulder and continued pedaling, the lieutenant said. The purse itself was valued at about $600. Inside was a cell phone, other personal items and more than $1,200 in cash.
A man on a bicycle also tried, but failed, to grab a purse from a woman’s shoulder about 5:15 p.m. in the area of Valley and San Gabriel Boulevards, just a few blocks east of the 7:20 p.m. crime, Valdez said. A witness reported seeing the robbery attempt, but police did not find the victim herself.
Several other purse snatchings have been reported in the same general area in recent days, he said. Further details were not available late Wednesday.
Valdez said police have increased patrols in the area and urged residents to be aware of their surroundings and avoid walking alone whenever possible.
Anyone with information was asked to call San Gabriel police at 626-308-2828.