Police Investigate Spate Of Strong-Arm Robberies

Spokane Police are investigating three strong-arm robberies, two of which occurred in daylight outside stores on the South Hill.

In the first incident Saturday, a man grabbed a woman’s purse as she left the Albertson’s at 37th and Grand about 2 p.m. The woman chased the man, caught him and he dropped the purse, police said.

When he tried to pick up the purse, the woman screamed and the man ran off. The woman was not hurt, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

In the second incident, which occurred 20 minutes later, a woman was walking outside the Payless Drug Store in Lincoln Heights when a man asked her the time.

He then grabbed her purse and pulled her to the pavement. The man took off when the woman screamed. The woman suffered minor cuts and scrapes, Cottam said.

Police have leads on possible suspects in both cases.

Another woman was attacked as she walked to the Circle K convenience store Saturday night at Third and Altamont. She told police one man hit her in the face and another took her wallet.

The woman suffered a bloody nose, Cottam said. The two men fled on foot.

, DataTimes