Delaware State Police
News Release

DSP News Release: Saturday, January 10, 2009- Suspect Lures Victim Out of Her Car in Purse Snatching Incident  

Location of Incident: Side of the Roadway on Route 7 in front of Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware, New Castle County  

Date and Time of Occurrence: Saturday, January 10, 2009, approximately 2:15 a.m.

Suspect(s): Hispanic male, 30 – 39 years old, 5’08” to 6’00” tall, 200 – 220 pounds; operating an unknown sedan  

Resume: Shortly after 2:00 a.m. this morning, Troopers were called to meet a robbery victim in the parking lot of the Gulf Station on Main Street in Stanton.

The victim in this case reported that she was exiting Delaware Park her vehicle was lightly tapped from behind by an unknown sedan operated by a male suspect.

The victim pulled over to the shoulder on Route 7. The male operator of the striking vehicle (the suspect) asked her to get out and inspect the rear of her car for damage.  When she did so, the suspect entered the victim's vehicle and removed her purse from the front passenger seat.  The victim confronted the suspect and attempted to grab the purse back.  The suspect then began striking the victim with the pocketbook in the upper torso/right chest, at which time she released her grip and let him have it.   The suspect got back into his vehicle and made a u-turn in the grass median separating the northbound and southbound lanes of DE 7.  Suspect then fled eastbound on Main Street in Stanton towards Wilmington.   The victim in this case was not injured. The State Police is unaware of any other robberies which have been carried out in this manner.

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call investigators at 302-834-2630 ext. 6 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.