Peachtree City

Police nabbed two purse snatching suspects Wednesday morning who stole

a wallet from a 70-year-old Tyrone woman shopping at the Kroger on Ga.

Highway 74 north.

Alton Barker,

44, of Union City and James Andrews, 62, of Atlanta, are both charged

with aggravated purse snatching since the victim was over 65 years old,

according to Peachtree City Police Chief Jim Murray.

Both men have

extensive criminal records and are being investigated for forging checks

at the same Kroger store, Murray said. They may also be responsible for

other purse snatching incidents in the county, including a number of incidents

at the Fayette Pavilion, he added.

The victim

was shopping with her purse on her arm when Barker reached in, grabbed

the wallet and tossed it to Andrews, Murray said. Andrews eventually fled

the scene in a car, leaving Barker behind, the chief said.

Officers were

able to respond to the scene quickly and arrest Barker while Tyrone police

assisted in apprehending Andrews soon after the incident, Murray said.

No one was hurt, he added.

Murray said

the incident is proof that serious criminals are making their way to Peachtree

City, but he felt confident that the judicial system will make an example

of them when the cases go to court.

Murray added

that the quick response was crucial to making the arrests. The timing

was particularly key because officers were performing special duties in

the area and were nearby when needed to respond.

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