Concord police make arrest after purse snatching of 93-year-old woman

CONCORD, Calif. (KTVU) - Concord police have arrested a suspect in connection with a purse snatching case that sent a 93-year old woman to the hospital.

Police detectives located Otto Halafihi in Patterson off Interstate 5 south of Tracy, the Stanislaus County Sheriff said,  and took him into custody Thursday evening.  He said they surrendered and was also arrested by Fremont police in connection with an armed robbery at Lowes.

The purse snatching took place outside a Bank of America a near Concord's Sun Valley Mall, and the vicious attack sent. 93-year-old Ann Pedersen to the hospital with a broken hip.

This week, Pederson’s son, Greg Pederson, told KTVU it was a shock when he heard his elderly mother was in the hospital with a broken hip sustained during a robbery. 

"She was coming to the end of a day running errands," he said. "She got her hair done and she was just getting a couple bucks at the bank."

As for news of the arrest, Pederson said: “That’s great news. Caring for our community takes effort. Together we are strong. Together we will fight and succeed to keep this great Bay Area community safe and thriving.”