A scary incident outside the Marshalls department store in Riverhead has left shoppers shaken. The robbery happened Monday night in the parking lot while many were wrapping up their holiday shopping.
According to the Riverhead Town Police, a man attacked a woman between two parked cars. He dragged her to the ground, stole $500 from her pocket, and tried to take her wallet too.
“It’s really scary. I’ve lived here for over 11 years, and I can’t believe something like this happened,” said Maysha Thompson McDonald, a Riverhead resident.
Zuhre Ozdemir from Manorville was just as shocked. “I usually come here with my kids and my husband to shop. I’m really surprised,” she shared.
The thief took off when a bystander stepped in to help. Police arrived quickly and used K9 units to search the area, but the suspect managed to get away. He’s described as a younger, light-skinned man with an average build, wearing a dark hooded jacket. Authorities believe he ran toward Old Country Road but hasn’t been seen since.
Thankfully, the victim wasn’t hurt during the robbery.
The police are asking for help to catch the suspect. If you know anything about what happened, please contact the Riverhead Town Police.