Longmont police on Thursday tracked a cell phone to the home of a man who matches a description of a robber who stole a woman’s purse in the store’s parking lot on Wednesday night.
The woman recovered her cell phone, but police are seeking help from members of the public to find her wallet and car keys.
Police spokeswoman Robin Erickson said officers were dispatched to the store at 1600 Hover Street around 5:14 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a call of a robbery.
“The victim was moving his purchases to his car when he was contacted by an unknown party who offered assistance,” Erickson said in an email. “The woman said she didn’t need help. The unknown party grabbed her purse from her shoulder and ran with it. The victim tried to grab her purse. Unidentified person. robbed him of his wallet and fled the scene.”
Robbers took the woman’s iPhone, maroon purse and keys. The wallet, which contained identification and credit cards, fell out of the wallet during the incident and was recovered at the scene, according to police.
Using a phone locator app, the family traced the victim’s phone to the 2900 block of Bowline Place and gave the exact location to police. Officers contacted a resident at the address, a 19-year-old man who denied leaving the house or having a phone.
On Thursday afternoon, officers watched a security video of the stolen store. The robber in the video was wearing the same clothes that the 19-year-old man was wearing, Erickson said. With a search warrant, officers recovered his iPhone, but not the stolen wallet and keys.
Police are asking anyone who finds a set of keys and a maroon wallet on 17th Street and Hover District to call 303-651-8555 and refer to Longmont Police Report 22-11119.
