A woman wound up in critical condition at a hospital after she was dragged across a Costco parking lot when thieves grabbed her purse after a shopping trip, police say.
The 37-year-old woman was putting away her groceries in the City of Industry on Sunday at about 6:45 p.m. when two men pulled up in an SUV, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
One of the men jumped out and grabbed her purse, but she refused to let go. She said that he punched her numerous times.
Deputy Miguel Meza told KNBC-TV that the woman was dragged between 40 and 50 feet from the suspect’s car while trying to hold on to her purse.
The woman suffered a facial fracture, abrasions, and lacerations to her scalp, but she is expected to survive.
She said that she was with two friends but that none of them suspected she was going to be targeted by the thieves.
Police said the incident happened in a spot of the parking lot with little light, so it is difficult to identify the men from surveillance video.
The two men are believed to have broken into another car in the same parking lot, according to investigators.
Police are asking for help from the public to identify the two suspects who were driving a dark-colored Infiniti QX60 SUV.
“I hope there is a witness,” the victim said to KTLA from her hospital bed.
Brian DeSoto, a resident who lives nearby, said the neighborhood used to be nice but had become more dangerous in recent years.
“If you are elderly or frail, you need to be cognizant of the potential problem that someone may be targeting you as a victim, especially if you’re wearing expensive jewelry if you’re driving an expensive car,” said DeSoto.
Here’s a local news report about the incident:
Costco purse snatching victim in critical condition after being draggedwww.youtube.com
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