Deltona, FL - A man who was wanted for purse-snatching at a Deltona Publix parking lot last week was arrested after stealing a purse from a shopper at another Deltona Publix on Monday.
22-year-old Anthony Vazquez fled the Publix parking lot at 2783 Elkcam Blvd. in Deltona at about 1:15 PM Monday after Volusia County Sheriff's Office (VCSO) says he stole a purse from a grocery cart. Deputies searched for the vehicle Vazquez was driving, described as a blue car with no tag, and they spotted the vehicle going through the intersection of Elkcam and Providence Blvds.
Vazquez fled an attempted traffic stop and sped off, but other deputies caught up to him at about 1:30 PM. The purse from Monday's theft was recovered from a driveway where Vazquez had tossed it into a recycling bin while he fled.
Vazquez is also wanted for a stealing a woman's purse at the Publix at 605 Courtland Blvd. in Deltona on August 15. The woman told deputies that a vehicle pulled up beside her as she was loading groceries in her car. The driver of the car pointed a gun at her and grabbed her purse from her shopping cart, according to VCSO. She positively identified Vazquez to deputies.
The victim of Monday's purse-snatching positively identified Vazquez as well. That victim did not report seeing any weapon. Neither purse snatching victim was injured in the incidents.
Vazquez is charged with armed robbery, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, two counts of grand theft, and two counts of possession of stolen credit cards.
(Vazquez's mugshot courtesy Volusia County jail)
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