Family of purse-snatching victim works to track down thieves

Taylor woman believes she's latest victim in string of Wayne County purse snatchings

TAYLOR, Mich. – A purse-snatching victim is sharing her story with hopes that it will help get the thieves off the street.

The 52-year-old Taylor woman believes she's the latest victim in a string of purse snatchings that have happened in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Garden City.

The woman said it happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday in front of a GFS Marketplace store. She didn't want to be identified because the thieves still have her IDs.

"I was going to try and get frozen food," she said. "He tried grabbing."

The woman told Local 4 a man and woman followed her as she shopped for groceries. At one point, she said she put her purse down in the cart as she reached for some seasonings. The pair walked out of the store casually after taking her purse as if they've done it before.

Surveillance video from Papaya Fruit Market in Dearborn Heights shows the man sneak up on a woman and take her purse in broad daylight, leaving in a green Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable.

What the thieves didn't know is that after the GFS robbery, the victim's family was being updated in real time by their credit card companies about where the thieves were shopping.

The family went to a number of gas stations and smoke shops, leaving contact information at each one -- it paid off. On Wednesday, someone saw the purse in a dumpster and called the family.

The victim said she'll never put her purse down again.


About the Author:

Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism