New Lenox police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 15-year-old Bloomington juvenile, who is wanted for snatching the purse of an elderly victim Nov. 8 in the Calistoga Plaza parking lot on Laraway Road, according to police.
The victim and her daughter were approached about 10:25 a.m. by the alleged offender, who grabbed the purse from her arm and ran to a white Chevy Cruze that was occupied by three other males, who then fled the area, police said. Surveillance video captured the incident.
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The purse was found a short time later in a ditch off Gougar Road by a citizen, police said.
At 11:35 a.m., the Chevy Cruze was involved in a road rage incident in Frankfort, at which time a license plate number was obtained. Investigators learned that the vehicle had been stolen from Bloomington, and that the same offenders were involved in a “dine-and-dash” theft at a Pontiac restaurant, and a theft at Home Depot in Shorewood, according to New Lenox police.
The vehicle was recovered Nov. 9 in Bloomington, officials said.
Working with Bloomington police and additional surveillance videos, the 15-year-old male was positively identified as the purse snatcher, who also has an active warrant out of Bloomington on another matter, police said.
New Lenox police said they obtained a warrant for his arrest on Friday and the investigation continues to identify the other individuals.