Females with purses targeted in string of brazen robberies in Concord

CONCORD, Calif. (KTVU) - Concord police are alerting the public to a recent string of brazen purse thefts. Concord police spokeswoman Cpl. Summer Galer said Wednesday that in four separate incidents in October, female victims were robbed after coming out of retail establishments.

The four thefts all occurred in the area of Willow Pass Road and Diamond Boulevard, near Willows Shopping Center between Oct. 4 and Oct. 12.

In three of the cases, the victims placed their purses next to them on the passenger seat of their vehicles after coming out of retail establishments. The suspect then smashed a window and grabbed the purse from the seat.

In another case, the victim left a retail establishment with a bank bag when a suspect approached her, punched her in the arm and took off with the bag. 

In each case, the suspects fled the scene in a nearby vehicle outfitted with temporary paper license plates. The victims in each case were also alone when they were robbed.

The suspect has been described as a male between 17 and 20 years old with a thin build. The suspect vehicle in three of the incidents was described as a newer model black Honda with tinted windows and paper plates from a Honda dealership. 

The suspect vehicle in the fourth case was described as a white early 2000s model Mercedes-Benz SUV with paper plates from the Hendrick Automotive Group.

Police are encouraging the public, especially as the holiday shopping season begins, to remain aware of their surroundings. 

To minimize the risk of purse thefts, police recommend keeping a purse out of sight if possible and for the public not to get distracted by their cellphones, especially when walking through parking lots.