Woman Charged with Attempted Purse Snatching at Burnsville Target

A Savage woman has been charged with attempted robbery and theft after police say she tried to snatch a woman’s purse in the parking lot of the Burnsville Target store.

Lynette Catherine Walsh, 28, faces two felony charges in connection with the Dec. 9 incident: attempted simple robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, and attempted theft from a person, which has a maximum penalty of two and a half years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Burnsville police were called to Target just after 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and spoke to the victim, who said she had just arrived at the store and had gotten out of her car when Walsh grabbed her purse from behind. 

The victim said she used both hands to hold onto her purse, which was on her left shoulder. Walsh continued pulling on the purse, and the victim fell to the ground, still hanging onto the purse.

The victim told police she began screaming, “Bastard, bastard, bastard!” as loud as she could to try to attract attention.

As the struggle over the purse continued, the purse’s shoulder strap broke. The victim was able to hold onto it, and Walsh ran away, according to the complaint.

The victim watched Walsh run from the scene and saw her hiding beneath a car. She told police she approached Walsh, who was attempting to crawl further beneath the car.

The victim said she said to the suspect, “You just tried to steal my purse.” Walsh replied, “Why would I try and steal your purse?,” then walked away, the victim said.

Officers spoke to a witness, who said he saw Walsh hiding beneath a car parked near his. He said he saw the victim run up to the car and confront Walsh about the attempted purse snatching.

Police interviewed Walsh, to denied trying to steal the victim’s purse. She said she thought the victim was a friend of hers and that she had grabbed her shoulder in an attempt to greet her.