Published: July 05, 2009 11:36 pm      

Police: Woman injured during attempted robbery

Beckley Police say a would-be robber tried to rip a woman’s purse away from her as she exited a grocery store, fought with her, then knocked her to the ground before leaving empty-handed.

At 8:45 p.m. Sunday, two women were parked at Harper Road Kroger parking lot, apparently watching for someone else to exit the store, said Patrolman M.G. Bragg of the Beckley Police Department.

They then saw a 57-year-old woman leaving the store, when the driver pulled up beside her, Bragg said. The passenger got out and tried to grab the alleged victim’s purse — but the victim put up a fight. The passenger failed to get the victim’s purse and knocked the victim to the ground.

The passenger then got back into the car, and the driver sped through the traffic light in front of the store, Bragg said. As the suspects headed west on Harper Road, a bystander followed them and tried to get a license plate number. However, the vehicle’s license plate was covered with what is believed to be a shopping bag. The bystander lost sight of the suspects’ vehicle around Crescent Road.

The victim, who experienced back pain, was taken to a local hospital, Bragg said. He noted several bystanders came to her aid.

The suspect who was a passenger in the vehicle is described as a white woman, between 16 and 20 years old, Bragg said. She has blonde hair, is about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 110 to 120 pounds. She was wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt and either jeans or pink pants.

The suspect driving the car is described as a white woman in her late 20s to early 30s, Bragg said. She had brown hair and was wearing jeans.

The vehicle is described as a burgundy, late 1990s-model, four-door passenger car, Bragg said. It is possibly a Nissan Sentra.

Bragg noted police are obtaining video surveillance evidence from Kroger, and there were several witnesses.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the Beckley Police Department at 304-256-1720 or Crime Stoppers at 304-255-7867.