NEW YORK, NY — A 70-year-old woman was injured early Friday morning when an unknown assailant forcibly snatched her purse in front of 575 Avenue of the Americas, police said.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. on April 18. According to the NYPD, the victim was walking near the intersection of West 16th Street when she was approached by an unidentified individual who yanked her purse away, causing her to fall to the ground.
The suspect fled on foot heading westbound on West 16th Street and has not been identified. There were no immediate arrests in the case.
Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the woman to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue. She was listed in stable condition.
Authorities have not yet released a description of the suspect. Detectives are reviewing area surveillance footage and interviewing potential witnesses to aid the investigation.
Investigation ongoing as police seek suspect
The location of the incident, just south of Chelsea, is typically well-trafficked even in early morning hours. Police are urging anyone who may have seen the robbery or has footage from the area around the time of the incident to contact them.
The NYPD has not indicated whether the robbery is believed to be part of a pattern or related to other recent crimes in Manhattan.
Key Points
- A 70-year-old woman was injured during a purse snatching near Sixth Avenue early Friday morning
- The suspect fled westbound on West 16th Street and remains at large
- The victim was treated at Bellevue Hospital and is in stable condition
Authorities continue to search for the assailant as the investigation into the violent robbery remains active.
An early morning purse snatching leaves a senior woman hospitalized and a thief on the run.