Portland police seek bicycle-riding purse snatcher | News

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The Portland Police Department is warning the public about a bicycle-riding purse snatcher.

Police say at least five times in the past month a bicyclist who appears to be out of control comes into contact with the victim, grabs her purse, and then pedals away.

The two latest thefts occurred Monday night.

Several attempts were unsuccessful with the rider yelling "sorry" in what investigators think is an attempt to make the contact appear accidental.

In every incident, the suspect was described as a white man, with an average build and shoulder length brown hair, wearing dark clothing, and riding a dark-colored bicycle.

All the thefts have occurred in the same general area and all between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

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