QUEENS — A 73-year-old woman pushing a cart of groceries in Howard Beach was punched in the face by a pair of purse snatchers, police said.
The incident, which was caught on surveillance video released by the NYPD, happened at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday as the woman was walking near 153rd Avenue and 88th Street.
The video shows the incident begin as two people, a man and a woman, who police said are each believed to be 18 years old, quickly walking up behind the victim on a residential sidewalk.
As the pair passed the victim, the woman grabbed her purse — which contained around $100, a cellphone and other personal items — police said.
As the victim struggled with her attacker, the man then punched the victim in the face, knocking her to the ground, according to the NYPD video.
The pair then raced back the way they came, according to the video.
The victim, whose name has not been released, suffered a cut to her ear and abrasions to her arm, police said. She was taken to Jamaica Hospital.
The woman attacker was last seen wearing a vest and the man wore dark clothing and tan cargo shorts, police said.
As of Thursday morning, the attackers were still at large.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.
