Koreatown purse snatcher sought after violent crime caught on video

KOREATOWN, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Police are looking for a woman caught on video grabbing a purse from a 78-year-old woman and pushing her to the ground in Koreatown.

The video shows the suspect following the victim into the front lobby of her apartment building. She approaches the victim from behind and grabs the purse off her shoulder.

The victim fights back and tries to block the suspect from leaving the building. But the younger woman pushes her away, making her fall to the ground.

The victim appeared to not be seriously injured in the robbery, as she is seen standing up and walking out of the building after the suspect, who was able to get away.

The robbery happened Friday at 11:25 a.m. in the 400 block of South Berendo Street.

Detectives said while the woman only suffered minor injuries to her back, she and her husband were visibly distraught while recounting the story.

"They were shaking when they were talking to me. I would have to assume that she was traumatized, but she was thankful that she was not injured any further," Detective Daniel Chi said.

Police described the suspect as an African-American woman, about 20 years old, with red hair. She is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds. She was seen wearing a black sweater with white stripes on the sleeves, ankle-high black pants and pink tennis shoes.

Authorities believe she targeted the victim because the woman was elderly and alone.

Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD's Detective Chi or Detective R. Rodriguez at (213) 382-9460 or during non-business hours at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

Anonymous information can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.