Police seek purse snatcher who robbed 18-year-old woman in Germantown [video]

Philadelphia Police released video on Thursday of a suspect in a recent purse snatching near Chelten Ave. and N. 21st St. in Germantown.

 

 

At 4 p.m. Monday, the 18-year-old female victim was walking along the 2100 block of Chelten Ave. “being followed by an unknown male,” according to police.

The unknown assailant reportedly walked past her, slowed his pace and, when she tried to pass him, tried to grab her bag off her shoulder, police said.

During a struggle, she was knocked to the ground, where the robber was able to take the bag from her before running away along Chelten Avenue onto Norwood Street.

The suspect is described as a 5-foot 8-inch tall black man in his mid-thirties to late-forties with a scruffy beard. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black skull cap, blue-hooded “Giants” sweatshirt, ash-black colored jeans, black and white gloves and boots.

This robbery came days after Eighth District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass railed against suspects in a series of purse snatchings across the city, and a “Handbags 4 Peace” rally in West Philadelphia.

Police ask anyone with information about the case, or suspect, to call Northwest Detective Division at (215) 686-3353/54 or the tipsline at (215) 686-TIPS, text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or send it in via the department’s website.