Police Investigate String of Gas Station Purse Snatchings

A string of thefts involving purse snatchings occurred last week at several gas stations in the area, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department.

Two of the incidents took place in Oxon Hill, two in Landover and one in Capitol Heights on both Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

Officials say that at this point, the incidents are being investigated separately as police have no evidence directly linking them. 

According to police, one of the Landover thefts, which occurred at the 5300 block of Sheriff Road on July 25 around 6 p.m., involved a black Mercedes SUV.

The victim told police that she had just finished pumping gas and returned to her car when the Mercedes SUV pulled up next to her. The passenger of the SUV reached into her open passenger side window, grabbed her purse and fled the scene with the driver, who had remained in the vehicle. 

The four incidents that followed took place the next morning between 9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at a Sunoco in Landover, a Sunoco and a Shell in Oxon Hill and a Wawa in Capitol Heights.   

Police are asking that anyone with information about the case contact the department’s investigative section for District III at 301-772-4911.