RFP Staff
♦ Since last Friday there is a noticeable rise in purse snatching and street muggings throughout Salisbury. Most purse snatching occurs in high-traffic retail and supermarket parking lots or in Downtown side streets.
Sunday Dolores Burack, 69, from Virginia, was accosted by a purse snatcher in Big Lots parking lot on East Innes and had her purse snatched with strong enough force to drive the woman to the ground where she struck her head and had to be treated at the hospital. That lot, which includes Big Lots, Office Depot, and K-Mart, was the scene of several successful purse snatchings. One involved a stabbing and another involved a 65 year-old woman having her purse snatched from a shopping cart inside the Big Lots store.
Never carry a purse if you are alone. Carry enough cash and credit cards on your person and travel with someone if you are a senior. This no hour of the day immune to purse snatchers especially during the holiday season
The purse snatcher in the Big Lots cases was described as a Black man with dreadlocks and who wore a black jacket with a red design. Not much to go on.
If you have any information about this or any other Salisbury purse snatchers or muggers call the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.
Keep in mind that parking lots by Walmart, Tinseltown, Big Lots, the West End Plaza, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Aldi’s, Wallace Commons, Bank lots are particularly susceptible to purse snatchings and muggings. Same too for parking lots and side streets in Downtown Salisbury. Outdoor ATMs in bank parking lots are an invitation to be robbed.
