Birmingham Senior Injured in Strong Arm Robbery

Birmingham Police officials on Friday said that the man believed to be responsible for three strong-arm robberies in multiple communities Wednesday afternoon injured a Birmingham woman while stealing her purse on her front porch.

The 77-year-old victim just returned home to 400 block of Smith Street from a local store with her husband at about 5:50 p.m. when the assailant ran up behind her and grabbed the purse off of her shoulder, Cmdr. Terry Kiernan said. He pulled the woman from the porch in the process and knocked her to the ground before running off toward Edgewood Street.

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics for undisclosed injuries.

She was unable to provide a detailed physical description but told police the man wore a long tan coat, Kiernan said. No vehicle was seen in the area, reports said.

Victims in Royal Oak and West Bloomfield reported similar incidents to their respective police departments between 5:40 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. A 65-year-old West Bloomfield woman broke her finger when she was attacked in her own garage in the 7000 block of Oak Tree, police said, and no injuries were reported in Royal Oak, police said.

The assailant is described as black with a light complexion, and is between 30 and 40 years old, reports said. He stood about 5-feet-10 inches to 6-feet-1, was between 200-220 pounds, and wore a light-colored tan jacket, dark pants and dark shoes.

Authorities said they believe the victims were likely followed home from public places in all three incidents and said motorists who are being followed should drive to their local police station, or to a populated area to call for help.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the department at 248-530-1870, or email birminghampolice@bhamgov.org.