About 7:15 a.m., a shopper parked her car in the lot of Food for Less, 313 W Battlefield Road. Police say she had climbed out of her car when she realized her purse was still in her car. She reached back into the vehicle to get the purse.

Before she could close the door, police say, a man approached her from behind and pulled her out of the car. He grabbed the purse from her arm and ran away.

The woman says the thief is about 6 feet tall. He wore a dark hooded sweatshirt and black or brown gloves. He might have been hiding behind a row of shrubs next to the victim’s vehicle.

Anyone with information can call police at (417) 864-1810 or anonymously at 417-869-TIPS (Crimestoppers hotline).

Police encourage people to be increasingly aware of their surroundings as they approach public spaces, buildings and other unfamiliar locations. There is unlikely a one-size-fits all method to avoid becoming a victim of violent crime but people can take small steps to reduce that likelihood.

There are also ways to reduce personal injury or financial loss associated with crimes of this type:
- Know your surroundings
- Be mentally prepared for a conflict and ready to react safely
- If you plan to resist a violent suspect, carefully weigh the risk of injury against dollar loss. It may not prove to be worth that risk.
- Avoid problem locations or obscured areas of parking lots
- Carry only a necessary amount of cash
- After the crime has occurred, call 911 immediately
- Keep emergency phone numbers to credit card companies and banks in a safe location, for quick reference in case those cards are taken.