WILLIAMSBURG — A purse snatcher punched a waitress in the face after she chased after the thief, police and witnesses said.
The 29-year-old victim said she left her Tommy Hilfiger purse on the counter next to a window at Chuvoys Restaurant at 502 Grand St. on Saturday, May 30 7:30 p.m. while she was working, police said.
A woman with straight hair who was wearing a green tank top then reached into the window and took the purse, police said.
The waitress saw the thief running and started chasing her, police said. The victim confronted the thief and asked that she return the purse, which contained some $360 worth of property — including a Guess wallet, $150 in cash and a Samsung Galaxy 3, police said.
The thief said "I did took it," but added that she didn't have the purse anymore, police said. She then punched the waitress, causing bruising and cuts to her face, police said.
The suspect then ran off on Union Avenue.
An employee at Chuvoys confirmed that the victim was a server at the restaurant and said that she quit the job after the incident. The employee did not want to comment further.
Police are investigating the incident.
