Man Accused Of Snatching Woman’s Purse After Chitchatting

A man struck up a conversation with a woman before snatching her purse and fleeing, police said.

Investigators said 20-year-old Felipe Rojas Jr. approached the victim and engaged her in a conversation before grabbing her purse and running away with it about 2:40 a.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of First Street in Downtown El Paso. The woman was being escorted to a vehicle and had her purse wrapped around her arm and wrist.

Witnesses immediately notified security guards who were nearby and they located Rojas moments later, police said.

Police said Rojas took some items, including some electronic equipment, from the purse and then placed the purse by another vehicle.

Rojas, of the 10200 block of Haynes Road in Socorro, was arrested on suspicion of robbery. He was booked into the El Paso County Jail with bond set at $2,500.