A 23-year-old woman was attacked and robbed while walking home from a Metra train station in suburban Midlothian last week, according to police.
Police said the woman was attacked around midnight July 29 near Central Park Avenue and Abbottsford Road by a masked man who punched her and stole her purse.
The woman told police she saw the man walking behind two women on 146th Street and Abbottsford Road but when they entered a nearby residence, the man turned and started jogging in her direction. The woman ran, but the man sprinted after her and tackled her to the ground.
The man repeatedly punched the woman in the back of the head, ripped her black tote bag off her shoulder and ran southbound toward 147th Street, police said. The bag contained the woman’s wallet and personal papers.
"The guy ripped her purse right off the strap," said witness Debbie Faught, who came outside when she heard the woman scream. "We saw her. She was shaking horribly. Her glasses were broken and all her stuff was there by the corner."
The suspect was described as a light-skinned man, approximately 5-foot-9, weighing between 180 and 215 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black ski mask and black pants, police said.
Nearly a week after the incident, police said no one is in custody. The woman's family said they are hoping for justice."
"I'm going to stay out late at night every now and then, just to make sure she comes home safe or pick her up," said her brother Eddie Simanis.
"I hope he gets time and I hope he learns his lesson," said her sister Karina Simanis.
