A 75-year-old woman suffered serious injuries in a purse snatching in Kalihi over the weekend, underscoring a rash of recent purse snatchings on Oahu.
The Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Elder Abuse Justice Unit and CrimeStoppers Honolulu remind the public to be aware of their surroundings due to the string of purse snatchings.
Police said the 75-year-old woman was walking to church at about 6:20 a.m. Sunday when a male suspect approached her and used physical force to take her purse.
The perpetrator fled in an awaiting vehicle with the victim’s bag.
The woman sustained hip and leg injuries when she fell to the ground at the time of the robbery. Emergency Medical Services treated her and took her in serious condition to a hospital.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Scott Spallina, founder of the prosecutor’s Elder Abuse Justice Unit, said they have seen a frequency in crimes in recent months of purse snatchers targeting seniors.
The crimes are happening in broad daylight and in areas where there are a lot of people, Spallina said. “It makes me angry.”
In July a violent purse- snatching case in Kalihi turned deadly.
Dolores Corpus, 85, died from head injuries July 26, five days after a teenager snatched her bag, causing her to fall and hit her head on the ground, police said.
Saikit Denny Saingo, 17, also known as Denny Boy Saingo, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Circuit Court after an Oahu grand jury recently indicted him with second- degree robbery and manslaughter in Corpus’ death.
She was on an early morning walk with her husband at the time of the robbery.
Saingo is being tried as an adult in the case after a Family Court judge waived jurisdiction over the teen last week.
He remains in custody at the Hale Ho‘omalu Juvenile Detention Center in Kapolei until he turns 18 in August, according to court documents.
Saingo’s bail has been increased to $250,000 from $100,000.
Spallina declined to comment on the charges against Saingo because of the pending case.
Another high-profile purse snatching occurred in November in Waikiki where armed suspects grabbed a bag from a 63-year-old Japanese visitor while she and her 29-year-old son were walking back to their hotel after celebrating her birthday.
Her son suffered a gash to his forehead when one of the robbers struck him with the butt of a pistol when he intervened.
Sgt. Chris Kim of CrimeStoppers Honolulu said, “It’s frustrating that (purse snatchings) are happening to our kupuna, to our visitors.”
“A lot of these purse snatchings happen from behind,” he added. “People have to be more aware of your surroundings.”
Both Spallina and Kim urged the public, especially seniors, not to put up a fight. “The contents of your purse is not worth the injuries you could sustain in a struggle,” Spallina said.
Kim echoed his sentiment. “Items can be replaced.”
It’s not worth your life or getting injured, he said.
SAFETY TIPS
The city Department of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Elder Abuse Justice Unit and CrimeStoppers Honolulu offer the following safety tips:
>> Be alert. Look around, especially behind you, for any suspicious people or vehicles.
>> Carry a purse close to you and with the strap across your body.
>> Consider carrying items in your front pockets.
>> Avoid carrying a lot of valuable items in your purse.
