Robber takes purse, backs over victim at Big Lots

Amarillo police are searching for a man involved in a purse snatching turned robbery Monday afternoon.

A woman told police that she turned her back on her shopping cart in Big Lots, 3510 E. Interstate 40, and when she looked back, her purse was missing, according to police.

As she looked for the bag, she saw a Hispanic man running out the front doors of the store, police said.

Thinking the man must have taken her purse, she chased the man outside and saw him get into a four-door Toyota vehicle, police said.

The woman stood behind the Toyota, hoping to keep him in place, but the vehicle backed up anyway, hitting the woman and knocking her to the ground, police said.

As the vehicle continued backing up, the woman avoided the tires and the bottom of the vehicle, police said, and the man pulled forward and fled the area.

The woman was treated at the scene for injuries that authorities did not consider life-threatening, according to police.

The robber is described as a Hispanic man in his 30s, who is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds, police said.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about the Big Lots incident or the robber involved to contact Amarillo police or call Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400 to leave an anonymous tip.