Woman Who Asked for Directions Target of Purse-Snatcher

A woman who asked for directions on the street was the victim of an attempted purse-snatching, according to Decatur Police.

The attempted robbery was reported about 8:15 p.m. Jan. 5 in the 100 block of Sycamore Street. The victim was trying to find the entrance to Core Studio when someone tried to snatch her purse.

Authorities say the victim told an officer she asked a white man for directions to the studio. The man pretended to have a hard time hearing her, moved closer and asked her to repeat herself, then grabbed her purse.

The woman turned and ran, holding on to her purse. She was not able to give police an exact location of where the incident occurred.

Sgt. Jennifer S. Ross of the Decatur Police Department says the victim was not injured and no items were stolen.

Police describe the suspect as a white man, between 30 and 40 years old, about 6 feet tall with short dark hair, unshaven and wearing a dark brown coat.