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Shocking footage of thieves running woman over with car to get handbag


WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: A terrifying bag snatch attempt has been captured on surveillance footage and released by police in a bid to track down an offender who remains on the run.

A woman who had just withdrawn a large amount of money can be seen getting out of her car, reportedly at a service station she is thought to co-own in Houston, Texas, when another car pulls up and a man jumps out and dashes towards her, according to KTRK-TV.

The man reaches the woman as she is opening the door to the building, but before she can enter he grabs onto her and tries to rip her bag away.

The video released on Friday shows a very graphic chain of events that followed, as the woman tried desperately to hold on to her bag.

A man is seen running towards her after she exits her car. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
A man is seen running towards her after she exits her car. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
The woman is caught off guard when someone tries to grab her bag. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
The woman is caught off guard when someone tries to grab her bag. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook

She is dragged away from the entrance and back in front of her car, before a man, believed to be her husband, rushes out from inside the building to help her.

According to local police the woman had just withdrawn $102,500 (US$75,000) from a bank nearby and a group of suspects followed her before the attack.

Police said the victim’s husband saw the struggle and engaged the suspect. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
Police said the victim’s husband saw the struggle and engaged the suspect. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook

Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 wrote on Facebook on Friday: “The victim fought hard and refused to give up her purse containing the money.

“The victim’s husband observed the struggle and physically engaged the suspect.”

The woman still clings to her bag. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
The woman still clings to her bag. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook

As the pair tried to fight off the first offender a black Chrysler pulls in next to the woman’s vehicle, the footage shows.

The driver of that car exits and briefly joins the struggle.

That person jumps back into the Chrysler and the car is reversed backwards over the man and woman.

“The second suspect then fled the location in his vehicle after running over the victims.” Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 Facebook page read.

A second suspect pulls up in a black car and joins the struggle briefly before fleeing. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
A second suspect pulls up in a black car and joins the struggle briefly before fleeing. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
The woman refuses to let her bag go throughout the terrifying ordeal. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook
The woman refuses to let her bag go throughout the terrifying ordeal. Source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4/ Facebook

Even following that terrifying turn video shows the other suspect and victims all keep a tight grasp on the purse.

The female victim was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

A constable who was on patrol in the area had witnessed the end of the struggle and apprehended one suspect.

Police are still searching for the second suspect.

“Davis Mitchell was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail, charges for Aggravated Robbery with a Deadly Weapon are currently being filed.

“If you have any information regarding the unidentified suspect in this case wearing the white shirt and white under wear, you are urged to contact our dispatch or your local law enforcement,” Constable Mark Herman wrote online.