Firefighters pool resources to help mother robbed in San Gabriel

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (KABC) -- Some kindhearted firefighters and paramedics did what they could to help a mother whose purse was stolen in San Gabriel.

According to police, the woman parked her car on the street to enter a dry cleaning shop in the 400 block of West Las Tunas Drive around 10:45 a.m. last Saturday, leaving her 7-year-old son in the vehicle.

Authorities said a man approached the victim's vehicle, snatched her purse from the front passenger seat, got into his own getaway car and tried to drive away.

That's when the woman ran after the suspect and held onto his car door. She ended up getting dragged for about 20 feet before she fell. Police said she sustained numerous abrasions to her hands and knees.

She was treated for her injuries at the scene. She told paramedics that she was about to take her son to lunch and a movie, and the tickets were in her stolen purse.

First responders did what they could to help out the family.

"He said, 'I don't think we're going to the movies anymore, but I sure am hungry. I hope we can still go to Panera.' So at that point, one of our paramedics went back to the ambulance, and sort of unbeknownst to any of us, came back with two movie passes and handed them to the mom," described Capt. Steve Wallace with the San Gabriel Fire Department.

Police said the firefighters also took up a collection to help the mom take her son to lunch.

The woman was shaken up with minor injuries but is expected to be OK.

The search continues for the suspect. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact police.