Another Purse Snatching In Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — There has been another semi-violent purse snatching in Boca Raton. While there were no serious injuries Tuesday night at Palmetto Park Square — that's the shopping center just east of I-95 on Palmetto Park Road — there is now an unmistakeable trend.

This is the fifth reported incident like this reported to police in past few months.

According to Boca Raton PD:

The victim told officers she was walking in the parking lot when a male approached her from behind, grabbed her purse, and pushed her. The suspect ran to a waiting newer model, grey, four-door Mazda 3 and got into the passenger side. The vehicle left the parking lot and headed west on Palmetto Park Road. The suspect is described as a light skinned black male, in his 20’s, about 5’5” tall, thin, with shoulder length dreadlocks. He was wearing blue jeans and a white, zip-up hoodie. The victim was not injured.

In the last few months, there have been five incidents in which purses were taken from victims by force and two thefts in which purses were taken from shopping carts. Derrick Ivery was arrested for a May 2nd robbery, which occurred in this plaza.

Boca Raton Police officers have increased both marked and unmarked patrols in the shopping plaza. Members of the Crime Prevention Unit are passing out flyers to the stores and speaking directly to store owners and employees. The property owner is working with police to beef up security.

Shoppers are encouraged to be alert and to report any suspicious persons or vehicles to police. Purses should never be left unattended, even for a few seconds.