Thief steals $4,000 from nursing student at Reseda car wash

RESEDA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A brazen thief in Reseda was caught on video stealing $4,000 from a nursing student who hoped to use the money to help her parents immigrate to the U.S.

The daytime robbery unfolded at car wash near Reseda Boulevard and Sherman Way last Thursday.

The nursing student, who also works as a caregiver, believes she was followed after picking up the cash at a bank. She said the robbery has left her with "a lot of fear."

Surveillance video shows a white SUV park next to the student as she was busy cleaning her car.

Someone exits from the SUV's passenger door and reaches into the student's car, grabbing her purse. The thief then reaches into the car again and steals the victim's wallet from the glove compartment.

When she realized what was happening, the nursing student screamed and asked for help.

Footage shows her run toward the suspect's SUV and grab the door, but she couldn't stop the car from taking off.

"He pushed me to the ground and drove off," said the victim, who didn't want to be identified due to safety concerns.

She said the money was loaned to her by a friend to help her pay for immigration legal services to petition her parents and help them immigrate to the U.S.

She's urging anyone with information about the theft to contact Los Angeles police.