Police Apprehend Man Who Snatches Purse from 82-Year-Old Woman: Report

Romeoville police came to the rescue of an 82-year-old woman in distress on Tuesday after her purse was snatched out of her hands in the Jewel-Osco parking lot at 20 S. Weber Road.

Police arrested Frederic T. Ehringer, 24, of 21515 Franklin Circle, Romeoville, and charged him with aggravated robbery—a felony—following an incident that occurred at 11:49 a.m., Romeoville Deputy Police Chief Steve Lucchesi said.

Lucchesi said Ehringer was riding a bicycle through the Jewel-Osco parking lot and grabbed the 82-year-old woman's purse as she walked toward the store, her intent to do her grocery shopping.

"Then, he rode to the Wendy's restaurant, removed $40 in cash and a credit card and discarded the purse in a trash can at Wendy's," Lucchesi said.

He said officers were able to track Ehringer down—still on his bike—near the Buffalo Wild Wings in the same vicinity based on a description relayed to them from a police dispatcher. Lucchesi said Ehringer was detained and a positive identification was made by the victim.

Officers also spoke with a witness at the scene who confirmed what happened, Lucchesi said.

"The good news is we were able to recover all of her property—the money, her credit card and her purse with all of her belongings still inside it," Lucchesi said.

Ehringer was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.