The Morgan Hill Police Department would like to alert our residents and local business owners alike about a recent increase in purse thefts in the Downtown area. Since March there have been four incidents in which patrons have had their purses/handbags stolen while sitting at the outside dining areas of local restaurants. Victims have had their purses/handbags on the table, on the ground near them or hanging on a chair; when a bicyclist has ridden by, grabbed the purse and successfully escaped.
In the most recent incident, the victim reported a Hispanic male, approximately 18-20 years old with a goatee; wearing sunglasses, a dark hoodie and dark colored pants, rode onto the sidewalk, grabbed the victim’s purse and then fled the scene despite the efforts of the victim, a witness and police. On one occasion the suspect was seen riding a “bmx” style bicycle and in all the other incidents, the suspect was reported to have been riding a dark colored mountain bike.
PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE:
As with most crimes, purse thefts are a crime of opportunity. Criminals are attracted to victims and their belongings that are easy and inviting. Your best defense is to take steps to make your property uninviting to criminals. In other words, the harder you make it, the less likely you are to become a crime victim.
While nothing is foolproof, common-sense precautions will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Always be aware of your surroundings and do not leave your property unattended; this will act as a deterrent to thieves and increase the likelihood they will pass you by and move on.
Anyone with information regarding these theft cases is asked to please contact Detective Sheena Pevehouse at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line 408.947-STOP (7867).
