Two eyed in purse thefts

by CYRYL JAKUBOWSKI

Two men were arrested at about 5 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, in the 5100 block of North Harlem Avenue in connection with one of a series of purse snatchings in the area, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

Harwood Heights police officers saw a man lean out the window of a car and take a purse from a woman who was walking, then strike her left foot with the vehicle as it drove away, according to police. Officers found the suspects’ vehicle and saw the passenger throw the purse and its contents out the window, police said.

In one incident, a 64-year-old woman reported that she was robbed and severely beaten at about 4:25 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in the 3500 block of North Nora Avenue, according to police.

The woman reported that when she got out of her car, a man attempted to take her purse and her cell phone, according to police. The woman said that when she resisted, the man punched her numerous times in the face, slammed her into the car, pushed her to the ground, and slammed her head into the sidewalk several times, police said.

A 20-year-old woman reported that her purse was stolen at about 7:40 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in the 4300 block of North Marmora Avenue, according to police. The woman reported that a man reached out the passenger-side window of a passing car and grabbed her diaper bag containing credit cards and keys, police said.

A 64-year-old woman reported that her purse was stolen at about 10 a.m. Oct. 12 in the 5900 block of West Dakin Street, according to police. The woman reported that the driver of a passing vehicle reached out the window and took her purse containing credit cards and $80 in cash, police said.

The suspects were identified by police as Eric W. Sierra, age 39, of the 200 block of North Rush Street, and Daniel Johnson, age 53, of the 1400 block of South Blue Island Avenue.