Women likely followed home from work before purses snatched in driveways, Palm Bay police say

PALM BAY, Fla. — Two women have reported late-night purse snatchings outside their homes in Palm Bay and police believe the robber followed them there from work.

The most recent theft happened earlier this week in the area of Tharp Road and Sanchez Street in Palm Bay.

Rodney Miller said his daughter had just returned home from work when a masked man ran up to her, grabbed her purse and fled.

“This can’t be his first one,” Miller said. “He seemed to know what he was doing to just run up on her as soon as she opened the door and, boom, grab it and go.”

Miller’s daughter noticed the car behind her had stopped at a stop sign, but didn’t think anything about it until the man was stealing her purse as she got out of her car.

Miller learned from police that a very similar purse-snatching had happened over the weekend at a nearby home.

Palm Bay Police Lt. Mike Bandish said drivers should be aware of their surroundings and if they’re concerned, call for help.

“If you belive you’re being followed, call 911,” he said. “We’ll have units pulling (over) that person in minutes. If you have to drive to the police station, don’t stop. We’ll get people to you.

“It may be nothing, we don’t care. We’ll check it out for you.”

Cox Media Group