Cops: Latest purse snatch not part of spree

Police say a purse-snatching incident Wednesday night in a parking lot at Nassau Community College in East Garden City is not related to a recent string of a dozen of them concentrated in South Shore communities.

The robbery occurred at about 10 p.m. as the 38-year-old woman, whose identity was not released, was getting into her car, Nassau County police said. The purse contained cash and personal items, they said.

Police said the suspect then fled the scene northbound toward Stewart Avenue. There were no injuries reported.

The incident did not match the pattern of the dozen purse-snatchings in Nassau since Oct. 23. Most of the other purse-snatchings took place south of Hempstead Turnpike between Baldwin and Wantagh, police said.

Those robberies, believed to be the work of two assailants, took place in Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, Hicksville, Levittown, Merrick, North Merrick and Wantagh. Two other recent purse-snatchings, both in Elmont, one of which took place Tuesday night, are not believed to be related to the other dozen incidents, police said.

In the string of purse snatchings police said the assailants have targeted female victims who are traveling alone, usually headed home from a store or shopping center. One of the men then attacks the woman and steals her pocketbook or purse as she walks up her driveway - while the second man serves as driver of the getaway car.

The locations of the robberies have been remote, Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said Wednesday, and none have been in crowded, public places. To that end, the robbery Wednesday does not immediately seem to fit the known pattern.

Police said Thursday that the latest purse-snatching is under investigation.