Investigators seek help in purse snatchings

By Nathan Hardin

nhardin@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Police are continuing to investigate after two separate purse snatching incidents Tuesday afternoon.

According to a Salisbury Police report, officers responded to a strong-armed robbery call about 3 p.m. Two hours later, they got a second call.

Detectives said an 81-year-old woman was entering the Salisbury Mall when a man left an exit near Goodies, said something to her, which she told police she didn’t understand, and grabbed her purse.

The woman said the robber was last seen running across the parking lot toward Salisbury Mall Cinemas.

Several hours later the woman’s purse was found by a citizen on Majolica Road.

Police said the only thing taken was $6 in cash.

About 5 p.m., officers were called to a second strong-armed robbery at 125 Pearl St.

The police report said three women, ages 24, 21 and 18, went to the location to meet a man one of the women had met online.

When they arrived, and parked in the parking lot they were instructed to, a man approached them and stole the purses from the front two passengers.

The man then jumped a fence and ran west toward a nearby business.

Officers brought in a K-9 unit and other officers from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office to pursue the man, but could not locate him.

They found two wallets, but did not find the purses, the report said.

The investigations are on-going, officers said, and anyone with information is asked to contact Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.