Police are warning downtown diners to closely guard their purses and other possessions as victims and witnesses have reported a series of purse snatching incidents in recent months.
Since March, there have been four incidents in which a male suspect riding by on a bicycle has grabbed purses or handbags from female victims sitting at outdoor dining areas in Morgan Hill, according to a July 9 press release from the Morgan Hill Police Department. The victims’ purses had been sitting on the table they occupied, on the ground near their feet or hanging from a chair when the suspect stole the items and successfully escaped in each of the incidents.
In the most recent incident, the victim described the suspect as a Hispanic male, about 18 to 20 years old with a goatee and wearing sunglasses, a dark hoodie and dark colored pants, police said. The suspect rode his bicycle onto the sidewalk, grabbed the victim’s purse and fled the scene.
On one occasion, the suspect was riding a BMX style bicycle, police said. In all the other incidents, the suspect was reportedly riding a dark colored mountain bike.
MHPD Sgt. Ray Ramos said the suspect had the “same MO and similar description” in each of the four incidents.
A March 4 incident that happened at Ladera Grill’s outdoor dining area, 17305 Monterey Road, was reported by the Times after the Morgan Hill Downtown Association sent an email to members warning them of the purse snatching.
About 8:15 p.m., the suspect rode by the outdoor dining area and grabbed a purse that was on a chair at a dining table, according to the email. The owner of the purse, who was sitting next to the chair from which her purse was stolen, said she noticed the thief cycle by the dining area the first time to “check it out,” and return moments later to steal the purse. The suspect fled the area on the bicycle after grabbing the purse.
The outdoor dining areas at Ladera Grill and other downtown restaurants extend from the front of the buildings out to the edge of the curb. The MHDA asked these establishments at the time to warn their customers to keep their valuables out of view when dining outside.
Police said there are ways outdoor dining patrons can guard themselves against future “crimes of opportunity.”
“Criminals are attracted to victims and their belongings that are easy and inviting,” Ramos said in the press release. “Your best defense is to take steps to make your property uninviting to criminals. In other words, the harder you make it, the less likely you are to become a crime victim. While nothing is foolproof, common sense precautions will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Always be aware of your surroundings and do not leave your property unattended; this will act as a deterrent to thieves and increase the likelihood they will pass you by and move on.”
Anyone with information about these incidents can call MHPD Det. Sheena Pevehouse at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line (408) 947-STOP (7867).
