A tough 56-year-old Baldwin woman fought off a purse snatcher in her driveway Tuesday evening — and Nassau County police allege that the incident, which left the victim with a sore left wrist, is part of a duo’s ongoing mugging spree on the South Shore.
Since Oct. 23, police believe the same two muggers have struck 11 times in Baldwin, Levittown, East Meadow, Merrick, North Merrick, Wantagh, Bellmore and Hicksville. Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said the latest attempt was “definitely part of our pattern,” which sees the suspects following women home from shopping areas and ripping their purses from their arms once they get out of their cars.
“People tend to linger a bit in their driveway,” said Smith, explaining the suspects’ strategy.
Det. Vincent Garcia said police would intensify marked and unmarked patrols in targeted areas. He reiterated that drivers should be cautious about being followed and should be mindful of their surroundings when exiting their cars after arriving home at night.
“We’re certainly not telling people to fight back, and we don’t want them to get hurt,” he said.
While none of the injuries were serious, Smith said the women lost cash, credit cards and cell phones.
