West St. Paul police are asking the public for help in identifying three males involved in a purse snatching outside a Target store this week.
An 85-year-old woman was walking to her car in the store’s parking lot about 11:50 p.m. Monday when one of the three ran up behind her and forcibly grabbed the purse from her hand, Sgt. John Hinderscheid said.
The three males, who are believed to be in their late teens, ran across South Robert Street to a parking lot and fled in a vehicle, Hinderscheid said. The vehicle’s make and model are not known.
The woman was not injured during the robbery, but complained of finger pain afterward and “was really shaken up,” Hinderscheid said. “She was frantic.”
Store surveillance cameras show the suspects watching the woman return merchandise at the customer service counter and then lingering outside until she left. “It looks like they were targeting her,” Hinderscheid said.
On Thursday, the police department released several surveillance camera pictures of the suspects in hope they can be identified. Anyone with information should call West St. Paul police at 651-552-4200.