Police Arrest Suspected Purse Snatchers In An Hour

San Leandro police have arrested two men suspected of snatching a purse from a woman in her 50s and then fleeing toward Oakland in a waiting car.

The incident occurred at 11:30 am Wednesday on the 15000 block of Hesperian Boulevard near Grace Street, and police say they made the arrest within an hour. 

According to SLPD, the victim said she was approached by a suspect who ripped the purse from her shoulder and fled into a green Cadillac, possibly a Deville model, which she last saw getting onto Interstate 580 toward Oakland. 

San Leandro police started to saturate the southern portion of Oakland and, about an hour later, an SLPD officer spotted a vehicle matching the victim's description around 98th Avenue and E Street.

Officers stopped the car and detained its two occupants who, police say, were positively identified by the victim.

The men, Dartelloi Goldstan of Oakland and Damari Deferrante-Heilelberg of Pinole, were arrested and taken to jail. Both men are 18.

The purse and its contents were recovered and returned to the victim, police said. 

“We are thankful that the victim was not hurt during this incident," San Leandro police Lt. Randall Brandt said in a statement, calling her a great witness who called in a report immediately.

"Our staff stopped what they were doing and made this case a priority until the responsible suspects were located and arrested,” Brandt said.