By Joe Johnson
A visitor from out of state was robbed of her purse downtown Sunday night but the purse was recovered after the thief ditched it while being chased by the victim’s husband, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.
The 54-year-old woman from Pittsford, NY., was walking with her husband and teenage daughter in the area of 175 E. Clayton St. at about 7:20 p.m. when they were approached by two black males, one of whom grabbed the purse off her shoulder and ran with the other male toward North Lumpkin Street, according to the report.
The victim’s 59-year-old husband gave chase, and while being pursued the thief threw the purse into some bushes on North Lumpkin Street , between West Hancock Avenue and East Washington Street, where the victim’s 16-year-old daughter found the purse with its contents intact, according to the report.
The robber was described as about six feet tall and wearing a red knit cap and dark clothing, the report stated. His companion was described only as younger and shorter,
According to the report, downtown surveillance cameras recorded the man chasing the suspect, and had footage of the suspect and the other male walking in the area prior to the incident.