Woman’s purse stolen in downtown Spokane; she gives chase

A woman was robbed of her purse in downtown Spokane at gunpoint just after 5 p.m. Tuesday, but she was able to get it back after giving chase.

The woman told police she was in the 200 block of South Washington walking to her car after work when she was approached by a man who pulled a gun and demanded her purse, said Officer Ben Maplethorp.

“She gave him the purse,” Maplethorp said. “He fled, but she gave chase.”

Maplethorp said he’s not sure why the woman chased the robber, but said she may have realized the gun was not real.

Police recovered some of the man’s clothing and a fake gun inside a building in the 200 block of South Post, which is where the woman lost sight of the fleeing robber.

Witnesses reported that the man drove away in a red or orange GMC pickup with a canopy with Oregon license plates. The back window of the canopy appeared to be broken out. Several businesses in the area have video surveillance footage of the man and his truck, Maplethorp said.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.