Jersey City man arrested in purse snatching on Tuers Ave. at Mercer St.

Thursday, February 11, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City man was arrested after trying to snatch a woman's purse and being scared away by a woman who heard the commotion, officials said.

Joseph Villardi, 20, of Woodlawn Avenue, was arrested at 6:37 p.m. and charged with robbing the 55-year-old victim at Tuers Avenue and Mercer Street moments earlier, reports said.

The Van Wagenen Avenue woman told police she was walking on Tuers when a man came up behind her and grabbed her purse, but she kept a grip on it and began pulling back while yelling for help, reports said.

That's when an employee of nearby St. Aedan's School came outside and scared the robber away, reports said.

Police quickly broadcast a description of the robber and picked up Villardi on Summit Avenue near Maiden Lane, reports said, adding that the victim identified him as her attacker.