Armed man snatches woman's purse in North Seattle
SEATTLE - A purse snatcher remains on the run after robbing a woman at knifepoint in North Seattle Friday afternoon, according to police.
The 50-year-old victim had her purse strapped diagonally across her body and was walking southbound in the 7200 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast just after 2:00 p.m., when police say she felt someone tugging at her purse from behind.
The strap on her purse came undone as she began to shout and she grabbed it, pulling it back toward her body.
Police say at that moment, the suspect circled the woman and that's when she noticed a silver-colored knife in his hand. The victim let go of her purse and the suspect ran off with it. He was last seen heading eastbound on Northeast 72nd Street.
The woman was not hurt during the struggle. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
It was the latest in a series of attacks on women over the past two weeks.
Gasp! SOMEONE STOLE A PURSE!! Wow!! Like, that NEVER happens!! C'Mon KOMO!! Do you JOB! Get some real NEWS!Â
KOMO, why is it when a gun is used in a crime you highlight the fact that it's a gun? But when a knife is used in a crime you call it a weapon? Why not call both weapons? That's what they both are, weapons. The answer is blatantly obvious, it doesnât serve your liberal interest?Â
This is not an insignificant issue for the victim, but it is an insignificant news story. Gee, KOMO, report stuff like this, and all you're doing is giving out more ideas to criminals. It's dangerous enough for women to carry those big, sometimes open, shoulder strap purses. One would think you'd be safer with an over the body purse. That's the only kind I will use. Now, not so safe anymore.Â
This kind of thing apparently happens a lot in foreign cities. That's why I bought a travel purse with two steel cables running the length of the body strap. Got it through a travel apparel clothing site.
Obviously there must be a need for tougher knife control laws.Â
What would have happened if she had a firearm in that purse?
@Hagar If she had been a trained, law-abiding gun owner she would have been carrying the purse in a manner so that the gun could be quickly drawn to defend herself.  "Concealment purses" allow a weapon to be drawn just as fast or faster than from a police officer's belt holster.
Secondly, if she were trained in threat assessment, as is part of any worthwhile self-defense course, the perp would never have gotten near enough to be able to pull on the purse strap from behind to begin with. Â
This article has so few details that it is useless for forming any sort of a true picture of what actually happened, but it sounds as though her perceptions may have been compromised in this case, perhaps because she was listening to music on headphones or any number of other reasons.
@Stoat @Hagar To expect that everyone "trained" use that training effectively is scarier than knowing that granny is packin'.
@SandyBeach @Stoat @Hagar I don't recall anyone ever suggesting that 'everyone' is properly trained.  It's unfortunate that they aren't, but that's one of the main missions of the NRA and every other legitimate firearms advocacy organization on the planet.....to promote legal, safe and proper firearm use.
People who fail to become properly trained aren't taking the tremendous responsibility of firearm ownership seriously.
Gee it would sure be nice to have a description of the perp
Hope he gets caught! Â It's a trauma to be victimized that way.
I'm starting to feel victimized myself, when told that my householdâs share of the $16 trillion national debt is now over $137,000.  Did we get jacked by the 1%?
I can't believe someone is actually recommending that women stop carrying purses just to avoid the purse snatcher. Where in women's clothing are there places to carry a wallet, keys, comb, lip balm, energy bar, glasses case, tissues, dental floss, crossword puzzle book, ibuprofen, etc.? Most women have enough useful items in a purse to get themselves through a lot of emergencies, so give it a rest. But please, if you don't carry a purse, don't expect me to provide you with the kleenex, cough drops, aspirin, etc. that you don't feel like carrying.
My goodness. I have *never* needed all of those items that you have deemed essential. *Never* I cannot imagine *needing* aspirin (or whatever) to the point that I could not go a day without those items. "Needing" lip balm or a crossword puzzle book? My word. And for that matter - those are not strictly "female" items that you list - how do men get through the day without their important lip balm? Your post is sad - if you *really* cannot get through a day - running errands, etc. - without those "essentails" then you must have a pathetic, insecure life.
Oh, and where do I carry things? Well, today I walked quite a distance to my favorite restaurant. I carried my keys in my hand. I carried money for my meal and my phone in a small, secure pocket. What else would I need? When I need more than cash - say, credit cards and ID, it's still easy to tuck those in a pocket.
Oh, I do go without it. Often. Although due to circumstances in my life - family challenges - right now I usually do carry it with me. But that is neither the norm nor my desire.
@Silvia I think it's sad you can't go anywhere without your phone.Â
my wife has a designer purse I would think that would be a huge red flag plus she can never find anything in it anyway so I dont see the point.
Carry money and valuables on your body, not in a purse. Let them have the purse with the empty wallet in it.
@Susan The point is I think is still a right to carry valuables is not a right for some one to take them away.It does not mater were you put them. Oh the government has the right to take
Absolutely. Carry valuables. But don't carry them in a way that shrieks that you have them.
@Silvia A purse does not shriek that you have valuables. Should students not carry backpacks now because it shrieks that they have something to steal?
But why carry a purse at all, even an empty one? I'm sure it's no fun being mugged, even if they don't actually get anything.
By the way, I don't understand women who carry purses even when all they are carrying is something like a hanky and a comb. Is their purse a security blanket for them?
@Silvia I carry a purse because as a mom it's nice to have things for me and the kids when I would like them. I'm usually gone all day and have blood sugar issues so I carry either a small snack or glucose tablets. I also like to have little things for the kids like bandaids and kleenex and when my lips are really chapped and I'm not home for 8 or 9 hours at a time it is nice to have chapstick. And ibuprofen if I have a bad headache - and much of what I'm doing all day requires a lot of physical exertion so it's nice to not have a headached. I'm not sure why you are so anti-purse or so angry about us women who like to have things with us ... I guess if I had a life where all I did was go to work in an office where everything is provided for me, or walk to a restaurant or trendy bar I would never need to carry a purse. But when you have a real life with actual physical exertion, responsibilities and kids dependent on you, it's nice to carry a purse (or backpack or whatever).  And I don't feel at all pathetic for not being able to live without my precious items. I'd like to see you do my life with just your phone and keys. In fact I'd like to see self-righteous folks like you try to do my life at all. That's be quite a joke.
No, I'm not being self righteous. I hope. Just pointing out thst msny women don't *need* to carry purses. They'd be safer without them.
As for not having a real life - oh, I have a real life. One complete with medical issues, etc. It isn't the same as your life - of course not...I just see many women who tote around their purses as though it's their lifeline - carrying something vitally important, when they rarely use their stuff...and that purse makes them an obvious target for crime.
I love you Silvia.
Not at all. In fact, I think NWS and I often disagree on many issues. This happens to not be one of them. :-)
@northwestsurferÂ
Probably one-in -the same..
Not to worry Seattle's crack police force will solve these crimes as soon as someone tells them where to fine these bad guys...
@Windowseat @Windowseat Based on the facts presented in this story, how do you suggest anyone, even the police, solve this crime? Perhaps a street camera would have helped? But you go ahead and tell us what you would do.
No, the Problem Solvers will come fast roping out of Air 4 quicker than we can imagine and solve this one so no one gets hurt
Will Democrats now seek to ban Knives?
No, because there is no ammendment guaranteeing the right to bear knives. The 2nd Ammendment defines "arms" as firearms, not knives, spoons, rolling pins, rubber bands, or whatever the hell you conservatives want to split hairs about today or tomorrow. Give it up dude, that is getting old, the novelty effect is gone. And before you decide to assume anything, I am liberal, but wait there's more; I own guns too.
@Attila Spoons
Thankfully she was not hurt. I teach self defense and learning how to strike hard and fast may have given this victim an aura where she wouldn't have been a target. Either way, she reacted and was not hurt. Good for her! Â Thanks, Â Todd Oly Olsen (Progressive Strength and Self Defense).Â
@Todd Oly Olsen Glad you posted that. Self defense classes should be a must for all kids in my opinion - they helped me a lot when I was younger.
Maybe the Dynamic duo of Seattle were right.
They predicted this would happen again.
Maybe women should quit carrying purses. There are ways to carry the basic essentials without always carrying a purse...I'm not saying this woman was wrong for being the victim of a robbery - of course she wasn't - but no need to make yourself an easy target either.
@Silvia Good advice...Not carring a purse if one doent have too. I'm glad she's ok.
@Silvia If mugger a gets the jump on someone a gun is of little use, except for the mugger.
I didn't mention a gun in my comment...gun carrying is a whole 'nother issue. I'm not against carrying guns, although I think women should think first about not making themselves obvious targets: don't carry a purse, wear shoes that allow you to run (no high heels), be obviously aware of people around you (no earbuds/bluetooth, etc).
@SilviaÂ
Maybe some elderly *purse snatching victims* can't run, it's nice you have no need to carry things someone else thinks are *essential* to carry with them, and just because *you* don't, don't belittle others who do, I'm surprised you could tear yourself away from the komo news comment boards and calling others *pathetic* and *insecure* to walk anywhere with your little *valuables* tucked safely away in your secret pockets.
I live in Shoreline and there have been several high profile broadday light armed home invasion in the past couple of months. The police blotter says they are from south seattle. Maybe they are moving north because they already robbed everyone is south seattle.
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@Seattle Seattle? Get tough on crime? Not a chance. It's SO much nicer and better for the criminal's delicate psyche to give them a hug, pat their little tushie and send them on their way.