Local : Purse-Snatching Suspects Investigated in 50 Thefts

Los Angeles police today were gathering evidence from more than 50 ride-by purse-snatchings in the San Fernando Valley since September that were believed to have been the work of two men arrested this week after detectives watched them ride a motorcycle by a woman and grab her purse, authorities said.

Police said they believe that the arrests of Ronald Clark, 24, and Curtis Brooks, 26, both of Reseda, brought to an end a string of similar incidents in which women were robbed while walking through shopping center parking lots, primarily in the West Valley.

The suspects were arrested Monday night after three days of surveillance by a team of detectives in cars and on motorcycles, Sgt. Paul Mattson said. The surveillance began after an off-duty police officer familiar with the string of purse-snatchings by two men on a motorcycle spotted them Friday in the West Valley.

Mattson said the two men will be charged in the case observed by police, but it was unclear whether they will face charges in the other thefts because most victims did not provide complete descriptions of the robbers.