Purse snatched from woman in parking lot of Miami Shores Publix

Theft reported Monday morning; no injuries reported

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Miami Shores police are searching for a man who snatched a purse from a woman over the weekend in the parking lot of a Publix.

The robbery was reported at 10:45 a.m. Monday outside a Publix at 9050 Biscayne Blvd.

Police said the man drove up next to the woman, identified as Mariana Coquibus, who was pushing her 2-year-old daughter in a shopping cart and snatched her purse.

The victim told Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden that the man was armed with a handgun.

"He said, 'I have something here. If you don't give me your purse ...' What I think (is) he's going to shoot me or my baby," Coquibus said.

Police said the man circled the parking lot three times before targeting Coquibus.

Coquibus said she tried fighting back, but the armed robber was too strong, leaving her arm full of bruises before getting away with her purse.

"Now I don't want to move from my house because I have panic attacks," she said.

Police said the robber left in a dark gray four-door car, possibly a Mitsubishi, with dark tints and a missing front left hub cap.

"Somebody has to catch him," Coquibus said. "Today, or tomorrow, or (in) a month -- I don't know."

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Miami Shores police at 305-759-2468 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.