75-year-old woman attacked, dragged during robbery after leaving bank in California

Police have not recovered the woman’s purse, which contains her wallet, cellphone and cash

A 75-year-old woman was attacked and dragged across the ground during a robbery that took place shortly after she visited a bank in California.

What happened: The violent robbery took place at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday outside a Bank of America on Azusa Avenue and Pepper Brook Way in Hacienda Heights.

In a now-viral video of the incident, the victim can be seen holding onto her purse as the thief pulls and drags her across a parking lot. When two good Samaritans try to chase him off, the suspect manages to yank the purse away before fleeing the scene. The victim, who is now recovering, was reportedly treated by firefighters for abrasions to her shoulders.

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Investigation: Police have not recovered the woman’s purse, which contains her wallet, cell phone and cash. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is using the viral video — which was posted on X by former Sheriff Alex Villanueva — as part of their investigation in hopes of tracking down the thief. Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to contact the LASD’s Industry Station at 626-330-3322.

Reactions of the community: John Ford, the president of the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, said he was shocked to see the video of the man dragging the elderly woman “like a rag doll.”

“I think there needs to be more effort to prosecute these crimes whether felony or misdemeanor,” Ford told San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “Criminals think they can get off the hook or get a slap on the wrist. Enough is enough.”

Local residents have also voiced concerns about the increasing crime in the neighborhood.

“We actually moved here years ago because it was a nice community, a safe community but now I won’t come to the bank alone, I won’t take my son to the market,” Cristal DeLeon, a Hacienda Heights resident, told NBC Los Angeles.

“It’s scary to see that,” Jose Rafoya, another local resident, told KTLA. “It might be your aunt, your grandma. I come here with my wife, my little kid and you never know. I open the door and somebody comes in with a knife or a gun. It’s scary.”