The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who allegedly attempted to snatch purses from three women in a seven-hour period between Monday evening and Tuesday morning in the UCF area.
The alleged crimes happened twice at the Wal-Mart on East Colonial Drive and once at the Regal Cinema in Waterford Lakes. The suspect was last seen leaving in a large green or black SUV such as a Suburban or Tahoe with aftermarket chrome rims and dark tint.
Orange County investigators responded to the Wal-Mart on East Colonial Drive on Tuesday morning at 1:30 a.m. According to OSCO, the suspect followed the female victim through Wal-Mart, snatched her purse when she was leaving and ran towards the getaway vehicle.
Prior to the snatching, at 12:19 a.m. on Tuesday morning the same suspect approached a woman at Regal Cinema in Waterford, sprayed her in the face with pepper spray and attempted to take her purse. However, according to OSCO, the suspect was unable to take any property from her.
At the same Wal-Mart location at roughly 6 p.m. on Monday, the same suspect followed a female exiting the Wal-Mart into the parking lot. According to OSCO, he distracted her by asking her a question and reached inside her vehicle, taking her purse. He was last seen jumping into the SUV that night.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office or call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS .
