Tyler

Tyler police have ended their search in northwest Tyler for a man believed to have stolen a purse from a vehicle while the victim was getting gasoline.

Police officials said the purse snatching occurred at the Valero station at Loop 323 and Texas Highway 31 west earlier today as a woman was getting gas.

Officials said the man fled the area and headed in an unknown direction and it was unknown if he was armed or not.

Police say the woman’s stolen credit card was then used at the of Super 1 Foods on Loop 323. When officers responded to the location the suspect fled through the parking lot of the Twelve Oaks hotel.

Officers quickly surrounded the area, but the suspect was able to get away. Police are processing the vehicle the suspect was driving which officers learned was stolen.

Police used tracking dogs and are sealed off a neighborhood during the search, authorities said.

Federal marshals were reported to be on the scene, and a Tyler Paper reporter on the scene reported that officers armed with automatic weapons were involved in the search.

Updated Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. CDT

Tyler Police Search a stolen car for evidence in Tyler earlier today. The car was recovered when a suspect attempted to purchase gas with a stolen credit card.
(Staff photo by Tom Turner)