Caught on Camera: Man snatches purse from woman walking with child in Fishtown

PHILADELPHIA (FOX 29) - Surveillance captured a man snatching a purse from a mom walking with her child in Fishtown.

It happened just before 11 a.m. Monday.

Surveillance shows a man walking in the middle of the street dart over to a woman and her child going into a business and grab a purse from inside the stroller. The woman strikes back. She runs behind the man and jumps on his back but he breaks free and takes off.

"You do know that things like that do happen but when you do have kids around you kind of are focused on them," said a woman who lives nearby.

FOX 29's Shawnette Wilson played the surveillance video for her as she walked along North Front Street carrying her 3-year-old daughter Eleanor.

"Your purse hangs out and your kind of let your guard down but I've seen it happen before," said the woman added. This time it happened as the woman and child were going in the back entrance of PlayArts, which is an educational play space for kids. Mary Darienzo and Lauren Belsh watched the video as they stopped while walking by the front of the place.

"It's scary that there was a baby in the stroller but I feel like instances like that are so few and far between in Fishtown at least that we hear of. It's bound to happen sooner or later anywhere," said Darienzo. They say they're not surprised but not overly concerned either.

"You definitely have to be aware of your surroundings and your belongings but I think overall the area I always feel pretty safe," said Belsh.

Police were able to get a closer picture of the suspect from the video. They're still looking for him and hope someone can help identify him.

"She had a kid with her so running after him. I don't know if that was the smartest idea but instinct is instinct. Fight or flight," said Rebecca Waxman.