HOUSTON – Houston robbery detectives are searching for purse snatchers believed responsible for at least five robberies between May 20, and June 12.
In two of the cases, the victims were beaten when they resisted giving up their purses.
Security video of the robbery on May 24 at the Hong Kong Market, 9800 Gulf Freeway, shows a black SUV pull up behind a woman loading groceries in her car. One of the suspects quickly got out of the SUV and grabbed her purse. When the woman resisted, he hit her in the face and pushed her to the ground.
“That’s the biggest issue with the cowards, they’ll go in there and if these women put up any kind of resistance, they’re not afraid to use violence.” said Jeff Brieden with the Houston Police Department's Robbery Division.
In each case, the suspects were driving a late model, black, Cadillac Escalade with paper license plates.
Police believe the truck may have been stolen last May.
WATCH: Gulf Freeway purse snatching surveillance video
The robberies happened at locations in southeast and southwest Houston:
- 8300 Wilcrest
- 9800 Blackhawk
- 11500 Bellaire
Two robberies -- on May 20, and May 24 -- happened in the parking lot of the Hong Kong Market at 9800 Gulf Freeway.
There was a third, apparently unrelated, violent, purse snatching at the same location about a month earlier.
A regular shopper at the store, Nayda Flores said she believes more needs to be done to ensure shoppers’ safety.
“I think somebody needs to do something, I don’t know who, but I think somebody needs to do something about it,” Flores said.
WATCH: Surveillance video of Gulf Freeway purse snatching
The store manager pointed out there is a guard on duty, but she declined to further comment as to whether the store has increased security since the robberies.
Robbery detectives are asking anyone with information about the robberies to call Houston Crime Stoppers. A reward of up to $5,000 is offered for information leading to their arrest.
