A quick-thinking victim, her husband and other citizens helped Conyers police officers arrest and charge three juveniles involved in an attempted purse snatching on Wednesday, February 20.

At approximately 3 p.m. on February 20, a woman was leaving JoAnn’s Fabrics in the Salem Gate Shopping Center when a 13-year-old black male attempted to steal her purse. The woman struggled with him when the woman’s husband, sitting in their parked car a short distance away, began sounding the car’s horn to distract the 13-year-old and two other juveniles, ages 15 and 16, nearby.

The three juveniles fled in the direction of Tall Oaks subdivision while the victim called 911. Conyers police officers, in cooperation with Rockdale County deputies and other witnesses, apprehended the three juveniles within 15 minutes. 

The 13-year-old juvenile was charged with robbery and the other two juveniles were charged with being party to the robbery. All three juveniles remain in police custody.

“As the suspects were fleeing, the victim followed them in her vehicle and took photos with her cell phone,” said Chief Wilson. “While we don’t condone citizens taking matters into their own hands in dangerous situations, we certainly appreciate the effort she and her husband made in helping officers identify and ultimately apprehend the suspects.”