Village Purse-Snatcher Attacks Woman Who Chased After Him: NYPD

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A West Village purse-snatcher punched a brave New Yorker who chased after him after he swiped her handbag, police said.

A 23-year-old woman was sitting on a L train at the 14th Street station near Sixth Avenue just before 12:30 p.m. when a man grabbed the woman's purse and bolted off the train. The victim ran after the man and grappled with him for her bag, but the brute punched the woman in the face, police said.

The woman let go and the mugger fled the station with the pocketbook, which contained $60, authorities said.

Police describe the attacker in his 20s or 30s, six-feet tall and roughly 180 pounds.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Photos courtesy of NYPD