Police arrest 16-year-old suspected of purse snatching in Gig Harbor

A 16-year-old has been arrested by Gig Harbor police for his alleged involvement in a series of purse-snatching incidents targeting elderly women in local grocery store parking lots. The suspect is linked to two incidents on December 9 and 11, where he caused significant injuries to a 77-year-old woman and stole a purse from an 80-year-old woman, respectively. In both cases, the suspect's aggressive tactics left victims traumatized and injured. Authorities are also pursuing charges of financial fraud against the suspect for using stolen credit cards from one of the victims. Investigators are currently working to connect the suspect to a third purse-snatching incident from December 12.

The police department collaborated with other local agencies to apprehend the suspect, who is now in the King County Juvenile Detention Facility. Additionally, a second suspect has been identified in relation to the fraudulent use of the victim's credit cards. This ongoing investigation highlights the community's concern for the safety of its elderly residents and the commitment of law enforcement to address such crimes.