Ruston Police urge caution in public places after a woman was faced by thieves in a bank parking lot Wednesday afternoon.
RPD said the woman was approached by three Hispanic men and a Hispanic woman in the parking lot of Origin Bank at 1511 North Trenton Street. When the Hispanic woman attempted to distract the victim, one of the men entered her car to steal from her purse.
The woman’s son described the incident in a social media post: “Four individuals attempted to rob my mother around 4:30 this afternoon in the parking lot at the Origin Bank across from Super One,” the man wrote. “The lady used one dollar bills she dropped on the ground and told my mother it was her money. When my mother got out to explain that wasn’t her money and to assist the girl in gathering the money, one of the men came around behind them and reached in the vehicle and removed items from her purse and proceeded to take off.”
The suspects were last seen traveling south on Trenton Street toward I-20 driving a dark colored sedan.
Crime prevention experts cite “situational awareness” as a strong tool for personal protection. Situational awareness starts with being observant of your surroundings, recognizing potential safety threats, and responding quickly to protect yourself.
Simple tactics such as scanning a parking lot before getting out of your car or avoiding a convenience store where someone is loitering in the shadows are examples of using awareness to avoid becoming a victim.
No reports of similar incidents have been received by RPD.
