Purse Snatcher At Jewel-Osco On Jefferson Street Pushes Joliet Woman To The Ground: Police

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet woman who was doing her grocery shopping on Sunday was attacked in broad daylight by a purse snatcher in the Jewel-Osco parking lot near Midland Avenue and West Jefferson Street, according to officials.

Joliet police managed to track down the accused robber, capturing Shawn Miller, 41, on charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery, according to the arrest reports.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English explained that at 4:24 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to the parking lot of Jewel-Osco at 1401 W. Jefferson St. for a robbery.

The elderly woman reported that she was loading groceries into her vehicle when a man approached and asked if she needed assistance. After she declined, the man tried to take her purse, according to police. A struggle ensued, during which the suspect forcibly took the purse and pushed the victim to the ground, English pointed out.

The victim tried to intervene as the robber entered his vehicle, but she was unsuccessful, police said. The suspect then fled by driving off. Witnesses in the parking lot saw the incident and captured images of the suspect's vehicle as it left the area.

English said that a short time later, on-duty officers found the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at the Phillips 66 gas station, 379 S. Chicago St. The driver was identified as Shawn Miller, 41, of Joliet and police said he was confirmed to be the suspect in the robbery.

The victim’s purse and its contents were later recovered from a garbage can near Western Avenue and Campbell Street. The victim declined medical assistance, English said.

Miller comes from the 1300 block of Clara Avenue, which is near Plainfield Road. Joliet police did not book Miller into the Will County Jail. Instead, he was released and given pretrial release for his eventual court appearance.