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Purse snatcher targets women in east Orange Co. parking lots

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A man attacked three women and tried to steal their purses within a matter of hours in east Orange County, investigators said.

The first purse robbery happened around 6 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of the Walmart on E. Colonial Drive. Deputies said the second incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday outside the movie theater in Waterford Lakes. A third robbery happened back at the Walmart parking lot around 1:30 a.m.

"We've got a problem on our hands on the east side," said Jane Watrel, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Video of the man who attacked the women was released by the Sheriff's Office Tuesday afternoon.

"He looks like an average person," said shopper Chauntel Hall.

Deputies said the man was specifically targeting his victims based on the surveillance video.

"He picks his victim, follows them, he lets them check out," Watrel said.

In the movie theater incident, the robber was armed with Mace but didn't get the victim's purse.

"Another woman is coming out to her car, he pepper sprays her in the face, she manages to get away," Watrel said.

According to investigators, the man attacked three times within seven hours. In each incident, the robber fled in a green SUV that had chrome rims and dark window tint.

Investigators believe the man may have had an accomplice waiting for him in the SUV.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office.