Police investigating downtown purse snatching attempt

The Prince Albert Police Service is investigating an attempted purse snatching that happened earlier this week in broad daylight in the city’s downtown area.

The attempt to snatch a woman’s purse happened on 10th Street East outside of the Conexus Credit Union just after 3 p.m. on Feb. 23.

According to police, a man tried to grab a woman’s purse while she was leaving the bank and entering her vehicle. The victim went to the ground and the man attempted to steal her purse, police said. A bystander started to “make a scene.”

The man fled the scene after the bystander began to yell. He left in a newer model SUV with tinted windows, police said.

A special constable was the first on the scene after they were flagged down.

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The man is described by police as five feet, nine inches tall, 130 pounds, between 20-30 years of age with a mustache.

On Feb. 3, a man grabbed a woman’s purse in the 800 block of Central Avenue and ran off with it. The purse was later found empty.

The suspect, who got away, is described as five feet, four inches tall. He was wearing a black and white jacket, with a grey sweater underneath and black pants.

At this point, police aren’t connecting the two incidents.

The police do have advice for the public aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

“We just ask people to be aware of their surroundings,” said Sgt. Brandon Mudry on Wednesday. “Certainly stay in well-lit areas, don’t flash large amounts of cash around and put it away.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames