In a brazen daylight attempt, a Victorville man tried to snatch a woman's purse as she awaited her bus, authorities say. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reports that Ruben Rodriguez, 28, of Victorville, targeted two individuals sitting at a bus stop before being apprehended shortly after the incident.

The attempted robbery took place on Friday, May 17, at around 5:23 p.m., near the intersection of Ramona Ave. and Amargosa Road. Rodriguez reportedly unsettled the victims with his gaze, prompting them to vacate their bench. The suspect then lunged at one of the women, grabbing her purse with enough force to knock it off her shoulder. According to a Sheriff's Department release, the women managed to recover the bag and flee to a nearby business for safety. Rodriguez chased them but, eventually gave up, allowing the victims to escape and contact law enforcement.

Police apprehended Rodriguez a short distance from the escape scene and booked him at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto, facing attempted robbery charges. The official booking reference for Rodriguez is P.C. 664/211. Deputies have encouraged anyone possessing information about the attempted robbery to reach out to the Victorville Police Station or the We-Tip hotline for anonymous reporting.

In the wake of the fray, Deputy Puga, who is handling the case, commended the victims for their bravery. Rodriguez is now waiting for his day in court to answer for the attempted snatch-and-grab. While the victims have walked away unharmed, the unsettling event is a stark reminder, that such bold acts can unfold even in broad daylight. For more details on the case, the Sheriff's Department has asked to be contacted directly at the numbers provided in their statement.