A surveillance camera captured a picture of the suspect van.
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SAN FERNANDO -- Police have released surveillance images in the robbery of a nun while she was putting groceries in the trunk of her car in a Food 4 Less parking lot.
Sister Mary De Leon and another nun -- both wearing full religious dress -- were approached by a man who said he needed help for his sister's children.
Sister De Leon suggested he contact a local church.
The man thanked her, then snatched her purse out of the shopping cart and hopped into a waiting green or dark blue Dodge Caravan.
"We have parking lot surveillance pictures of him jumping into the van and having someone drive him away," said Lt. Tony Ruelas of the San Fernando Police Department.
"It shows Sister De Leon running after him, but she was too late."
The suspect is described as a male Latino, approximately 30 to 35 years of age, with a goatee. He was wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored pants.
He made off with Sister De Leon's money and ID cards, but didn't get her most prized possession: her rosary. She was wearing that around her neck.
After word of the robbery circulated around the police station in San Fernando, desk officers Marlene Martinez, Tawny Montes and other employees decided to buy Sister De Leon a new purse and a gift card to Food 4 Less.
Sister De Leon was touched by the gesture, and wrote thank you notes to all the officers.
Sister Mary De Leon and another nun -- both wearing full religious dress -- were approached by a man who said he needed help for his sister's children.
Sister De Leon suggested he contact a local church.
The man thanked her, then snatched her purse out of the shopping cart and hopped into a waiting green or dark blue Dodge Caravan.
"We have parking lot surveillance pictures of him jumping into the van and having someone drive him away," said Lt. Tony Ruelas of the San Fernando Police Department.
"It shows Sister De Leon running after him, but she was too late."
The suspect is described as a male Latino, approximately 30 to 35 years of age, with a goatee. He was wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored pants.
He made off with Sister De Leon's money and ID cards, but didn't get her most prized possession: her rosary. She was wearing that around her neck.
After word of the robbery circulated around the police station in San Fernando, desk officers Marlene Martinez, Tawny Montes and other employees decided to buy Sister De Leon a new purse and a gift card to Food 4 Less.
Sister De Leon was touched by the gesture, and wrote thank you notes to all the officers.
