Suspect pulled a driver out of her car, took her purse then drove off, Olympia police say
A 77-year-old woman was pulled from her car by a man who then drove off with the vehicle, according to Olympia police.
About 5:40 p.m. May 26, the woman was walking back to her car in the 400 block of Lilly Road Northeast, an area with a number of medical clinics.
She got into her car, then a man suddenly rushed toward her and pulled her out of the vehicle onto the ground, police Lt. Paul Lower said. The man also took her purse, Lower said.
The suspect got into her car and drove to the Tumwater area, Lower said, citing a report about the incident.
Washington State Patrol then responded to a 911 call about a minor hit-and-run collision near Interstate 5 and Tumwater Boulevard. The woman’s vehicle was found unoccupied near the freeway at Tumwater Boulevard and Center Street Southwest, Lower said.
The suspect reportedly stole a second vehicle and was ultimately taken into custody by Tumwater police, Lower said.
The 47-year-old man was booked on suspicion of second-degree robbery and auto theft, Lower said.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM.
