PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police charged a juvenile in connection with several purse robberies in Shadyside.
The woman, 17, is charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy and access device fraud.
Police are still asking for the public’s help identifying the other woman who they said was involved.
One incident happened around 4:40 p.m. Oct. 7. Police said a woman, 31, was walking on Ellsworth Avenue when another woman approached her from behind and grabbed her purse.
According to police, the victim chased after the thief and encountered a second woman on Felix Avenue who was holding a gun. Despite that, a good Samaritan was able to get the victim’s purse back.
The thief got away in a red Jeep Cherokee with Maryland license plates, police said.
A second incident happened around 2 p.m. Oct. 18. A woman, 77, was injured when two women stole her purse at the intersection of Ellsworth Avenue and Spahr Street, police said. Police said the victim’s credit cards were later used at the JCPenney at Monroeville Mall.
The 77-year-old’s son spoke with Channel 11 News Wednesday, who said the women picked up his mother and hit her head on the ground. She remained hospital as of Wednesday.
“All she knows is that she woke up with a mouth full of mud, laying on the ground in a puddle of blood,” the woman’s son said. “It knocked her unconscious and really did damage to her face, neck, back and legs.”
A third robbery occurred Monday night. Police said a woman, 22, was punched in the back of her head on Ellsworth Avenue, and her credit card was later used at a Giant Eagle on Centre Avenue.
Authorities said while street robberies in the city are nothing new, the women involved in the purse snatchings appear to be organized and unafraid to use force.
Police released surveillance pictures of the women in the hope that the public can assist in identifying the pair. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-422-6578.