Los Alamitos police seek unsuccessful purse snatcher

An attempted purse snatching in Los Alamitos failed miserably when the intended 63-year-old victim, her husband and witnesses fought back Thursday, Sept. 1.

According to Capt. Bruce McAlpine, of the Los Alamitos Police Department, this is what happened:

The 63-year-old woman, who police did not identify, and her 69-year-old husband were leaving the Bank of America branch on Los Alamitos Boulveard.

A man in his 20s—who police later described as Hispanic based on eye witness accounts—came up behind the woman and tried to take her purse. But the woman wouldn’t let go.

During the struggle, thief and victim fell to the ground. Her husband joined the fight. The thief punched his arm. Several witnesses joined the fight and tried to capture the thief, but he got away.

The Cypress, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach police agencies and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department swarmed the area. A sheriff’s helicopter flew overhead, searching for the suspect.

The search lasted two hours.

Unfortunately, he got away.

According to McAlpine, the victims only suffered minor bruises and were treated at the scene by the Orange County Fire Authority.

The suspect was described as Hispanic, in his early 20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 175 pounds. He wore black pants and a white T-shirt.