WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Attempted purse snatcher arrested

Attempted purse snatcher arrested

By Andre Moreau - bio | email

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA (WAFB) - A 22-year-old Denham Springs woman has turned herself in to police after video of her trying to steal a church lady's purse was aired on television.

Police booked Christina Brock on a charge of attempted purse snatching. They say Brock knocked a grandmother down to the ground while trying to steal her purse in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Surveillance cameras captured it all.

Denham Springs police say the incident happened on a Sunday morning last month at the Wal-Mart on South Range Ave. in Denham Springs. They say the victim, Janice Hull, was shopping before heading to church. Brock followed her to the parking lot until the woman reached her vehicle.

At that point, police say the young woman violently tried to rip the purse from the church lady's clutches, but she wouldn't let go, even after being knocked to the ground. "She pulled and I pulled back and I realized she really could take that purse from me," said Hull. "So I just went to the ground and started down it and pulled her."

The suspect then gave up, ran away empty-handed to a silver-colored Pontiac Firebird, and drove off.     "I actually looked at her and it reminded me of one of my grandchildren and I was thinking, 'Are you crazy?'"

Janice's grandson got into the van first and did not see the woman attacking his grandmother. She was able to get up, dust off, and head to church. And while she's now praying police will catch her would-be purse-snatcher, she also wants to send her a message. "Get a job. We're retired. Our money comes in once a month and that money is ours. We worked for it."

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