Purse Snatcher On The Loose in Monmouth

A purse snatcher who made off with a woman's belongings Monday in a shopping center remains the object of a search by Ocean Township police today.

According to Detective Lieutenant Kevin Faller, the theft was reported at 9:06 PM from the Middlebrook Shopping Plaza. The victim told investigators that her handbag was snapped out of her shopping cart and ran off in a northerly direction, between a nearby 7-11 and Shell service station.

Despite a police perimeter and the arrival of a Monmouth County K-9 team, a search of the area turned up no suspects.

He's described as a white male, 5'8" to 6' in height, at the time wearing a shiny black puffy winter coat, blue jeans and a beige winter hat.

Ocean Township police ask anyone who may have seen the incident to call Detective Bryan Morgan or Detective Michael Legg at 732-531-1800.