Police investigating after two Ocean Boulevard purse snatchings

Two purse snatchings happened within hours of one another and not very far apart on Ocean Boulevard, according to Myrtle Beach police reports.

Myrtle Beach officers were first called about 11 p.m. Tuesday to a hotel at 103 N. Ocean Blvd. where a 19-year-old woman told police her purse had been snatched, authorities said.

The victim told police she was walking northbound on the west side of Ocean Boulevard near 104 N. Ocean Blvd. when an unknown suspect ran up behind her and grabbed her purse, authorities said.

The victim screamed as the suspect ran off with her brown Coach-brand bag, valued at about $75, police said.

The victim told police she last saw the suspect running northbound on Flagg Street.

The victim said her bag contained $10 cash, a Coach-brand wallet, and identification documents.

Myrtle Beach authorities were called about the other purse snatching about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, and met a victim at Third Avenue North near the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, police said.

A 20-year-old female victim told authorities the incident happened at Third Avenue North and North Ocean Boulevard, police said.

The victim said she chased after the suspect who came up behind her and grabbed her Vera Bradley-brand purse while she was walking southbound on Ocean Boulevard toward her hotel room, police said.

The victim said she chased the suspect until he jumped a fence leading to the pool area of a nearby hotel and then jumped another fence, authorities said.

The victim told police her purse contained $15 cash, her military identification card, driver’s license, and debit card.

Each victim gave different descriptions of the suspects involved in the separate incidents, according to the reports.

Arrests had not yet been made in connection with the incidents as of Wednesday morning.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Police investigating after two Ocean Boulevard purse snatchings."