Purse Snatchers Already At Work

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The holiday shopping season is right around the corner and criminals are already getting a jump on the action.  A Chouteau woman learned her lesson the hard way on Monday in Tulsa.

The woman was sitting in her truck in a store parking lot, waiting for her husband, who was inside.  A clean-cut, friendly man knocked on her window and that's what started it all.  Thanks to a good Samaritan, the story has a happier ending than most.

Jane Supernaw and her dog, Shimmy, were sitting in a truck in the parking lot of an Academy Sports store Monday afternoon at 12:30.  They were parked in one of the handicapped spots, while Jane's husband was inside.  A man she didn't know tapped on her window.

After the man knocked on the window, Jane lowered it somewhat, because it was raining and because he was a clean cut, nice looking man. He asked her where the nearest bank was. Asking for directions is a very common thing criminals will do right before they strike.

"I told him, I think there's one straight down the street. That's when he grabbed my purse," said Jane Supernaw.

The man reached across Jane and grabbed her big, red purse and pulled it through the window and took off.

Jane took off after him to see which way he went.

An employee of Academy followed the man to the nearby LaQuinta Inn.  Thanks to him, police arrested Logan McCoy and gave Jane her purse back, minus $200.

"When he came out, he looked right at me and I never took my eyes off him. He was just unbelievable, clean cut, nice looking young man, just unbelievable," said Jane Supernaw.  "No, I wouldn't trust anybody in a suit or a mink coat anymore."

Jane is thankful the robber didn't have a weapon and even though she is still shaken up by it, her overwhelming emotion was anger.

"I wanted to go slap his face but, thought, no, I'll get assault charges for that," said Jane Supernaw.

If someone you don't know asks you a seemingly innocent question, your first thought should be:  why are they talking to me?

If they really need directions or some other type of help, it would make sense for them to ask inside the store, not to approach you alone in the parking lot.  

Many people are reluctant to be rude to a total stranger because they're afraid they'll be wrong and the person is really a nice guy and they'll be embarrassed.  But, the fact is, you can't die of embarrassment, but you could die at the hands of a criminal.