VIDEO: Alameda Senior Robbed and Then Dragged by Car Trying To Stop Thieves

A robbery incident in Alameda, California, on June 26, 2023, left a 69-year-old woman injured after she tried to stop the thief and was subsequently dragged by a moving car, according to KTVU. The woman, who requested anonymity, said she would do it all over again and took pride in fighting till the end.

 

Woman, 69, is dragged by car & knocked to ground while chasing after guy who robbed her in Alameda. Victim & @AlamedaPD Chief @Joshi8450 speak out. 5,6,7 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/vwrWVXagD5

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 26, 2023

 

The robbery occurred on Broadway, near the lagoon between Otis and Shore Line Drives at approximately 3 p.m. on a Sunday. The woman was having a snack and talking on the phone in her parked red Ford Mustang when a white car pulled up behind her. The thief then approached the passenger side of her car, grabbed her purse, and ran back to his vehicle. Determined to get her belongings back, the woman chased after him, confronted the robber, and was dragged when he sped off in his car.

Surprisingly, the woman revealed that it was not the purse itself that motivated her to chase the thief but the expensive Gucci prescription glasses inside. "That was what pushed me to go after him, because I want(ed) my glasses," she said to KTVU. "I cannot see without glasses." She added that although she felt violated by the incident, she also experienced a sense of satisfaction for putting up a fight.

Unfortunately, her actions came with a cost as she suffered head injuries, and the video of the incident captured by Bach Ha showed her bloodied and staggering. Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi advised against engaging with or chasing attackers, emphasizing that personal items can be replaced, but personal safety should not be compromised. "My heart goes out to her. I think the natural instinct or inclination is to go try to get your property back. But there’s a lot of risks that come with that. And in this case, she was injured," Joshi said in a statement.