- Surveillance video captured the moment an elderly woman beat off a robber
- Man followed the woman into her apartment building and tried to grab her purse
- The 80-year-old grabs back and won’t let go of the bag, falling to the ground
- Eventually the man ran off after a neighbor came out of his apartment to help
- Police say the man is part of a trio who are wanted for a December robbery
Surveillance videos show the moment an 80-year-old woman bravely fought off a thief trying to steal her purse on Tuesday night.
The video, released by the NYPD, shows the woman entering an apartment building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan when suddenly a man follows her in, comes up from behind and grabs her purse.
As he is attempts to make a getaway she turns around and grabs the handle and starts pulling back.
Surveillance videos show the moment an 80-year-old woman bravely fought off a thief trying to steal her purse on Tuesday night
After a few seconds of tugging back and forth in the apartment building’s door frame the woman falls to the ground
After a few seconds of tugging back and forth in the apartment building’s door frame the woman falls to the ground.
She then screamed out, causing another resident to come out of his apartment to help.
The suspect continued attempting to take her purse until the man got closer, at which point he gave up and ran off.
A second man ran off with the suspect, and police say the man was standing outside the building as a lookout.
Authorities said that the two men and a third were part of a similar robbery last month, according to NBC New York.
She then screamed out, causing another resident to come out of his apartment to help. The suspect continued attempting to take her purse until the man got closer, at which point he gave up and ran off
Authorities said that the two men and a third were part of a similar robbery last month, according to NBC New York
Police have asked anyone with information about the suspects to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS
The trio snatched the purse of a 23-year-old woman who tried to fight back but was eventually pushed to the ground.
They also took her headphones and $180 in cash, according to police.
Both women suffered minor injuries in their attacks, but nothing that required hospitalization.
Police have asked anyone with information about the suspects to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.