The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday in the 68700 block of Minerva Road. Authorities said the suspect approached the victim and demanded her purse at gunpoint.
The gunman took the purse and drove off in a white four-door vehicle. Officials said the suspect was last seen traveling west on Minerva Road toward Tachevah Drive.
No one was injured in the incident.
The suspect is described as a white male with blond hair, wearing black sunglasses.
Police asked anyone with information about this incident to call the Cathedral City Police Department at (760) 770-0303.
City News Service contributed to this report.