Purse snatched in Palm Desert

A purse snatcher grabbed a woman’s handbag in the parking lot of a Palm Desert restaurant and fled in a waiting getaway car, evading capture, a sergeant said Saturday.

Sheriff’s deputies received a call at 9:05 p.m. Friday and went to the area of El Paseo Avenue and Sage Lane. They learned that the patron was leaving a restaurant when a suspect assaulted her, took her purse and ran across the
parking lot to a dark-colored car, Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tom Brewster
said.

The suspect entered the passenger-side of the vehicle that sped off. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was later released, Brewster said.

The suspect, who was not caught, was described as a heavy set Latino in his mid-20s and was about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He had dark hair and wore dark pants and a dark jacket, Brewster said.

Anyone with information about the strong arm robbery is encouraged bto call Investigator Isaac White at the Sheriff’s Palm Desert station at (760) 836-1600.