Woman targeted at restaurant in Jacksonville's Baymeadows area

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local restaurant is on edge after a customer had her wallet snatched and the entire incident was caught on camera.

It happened at Modu Ramen in Baymeadows near Phillips Highway last Saturday.

Priscilla Perez said the incident happened so fast, a woman snatched her wallet and she ran after her ending up on Baymeadows Road before that thief got away.

“I didn’t see that coming, my wallet was literally almost tucked underneath my thigh like it was that close to me, I just pulled my card out,” Perez said.

Putting your purse, keys or wallet down next to you is a habit for many people. That’s what Pere did as she was signing her receipt, and that’s when a woman boldly snatched her wallet and ran.

“She grabbed it and I just reacted and I ran after her,” Perez said.

STORY: Thousands in sound equipment stolen from Jacksonville church

She chased the thief all the way to the edge of the road and then lost her on Baymeadows. That’s when she called police and was able to give them a description of the woman.

“At that point I let her go because I didn’t know who she was running to (or) where she was going. She was wearing a jean jacket, black pants black shirt. I can tell them everything that I remembered,” Perez said.

She said the thief didn’t get away with any cash but she was left feeling violated about having her identity compromised.

“When somebody comes by and you clutch your purse a little bit tighter and you hold your wallet, I mean it’s reasons like this this is why you do it,” Perez said.

Now she’s warning other women to break the habit of letting your guard down. “Being situationally aware of your surroundings and just keep things close,” Perez said. And she just thankful the situation didn’t end in violence.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories

Cox Media Group