Bag robbery was a drag for brave senior

A 79-year-old woman in Chelsea valiantly tried to hang onto her purse, but couldn’t outlast a determined robber who ripped it away from her.

Police said the senior woman was in front of 255 W. 23rd St. on Sun., July 12, around 9:15 p.m., when a man grabbed her bag from her shoulder. When she wouldn’t let go of the satchel, he dragged her to the pavement.

After succeeding in snatching away the purse, the suspect fled eastbound on W. 23rd St.

The victim suffered pain and bruising to her head, hand and buttocks. She was removed by E.M.S. to Lenox Health Greenwich Village in stable condition. Among the items inside her purse were her hearing aids, asthma pump, cell phone and numerous credit cards.

The individual is described as a bald Hispanic male, last seen wearing a blue mask on his face, a white shirt, red shorts and dark-colored sneakers.

Police released surveillance video and a photo of the suspect.

Police ask that anyone with information relating to this incident call the New York Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted on the Crime Stoppers Web site at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter at @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.