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91-Year-Old Former Marine Robbed On Veterans Day

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Westminster on Wednesday released surveillance images of a man they believe robbed a 91-year-old former Marine on Veterans Day.

The mugging took place outside the veteran's home on Nov. 11. The man and his wife had just returned home from their weekly grocery shopping trip.

As the man, who was a Marine Corps pilot, was carrying bags inside he says he was tackled from behind and his wallet was ripped from his pocket.

"Being a good husband and a gentleman he gets his wife into the house so that he can unload the groceries. And ultimately he's taking groceries into the house when he's tackled from behind," Trevor Materasso with Westminster police said. "So this suspect shows up, tackles him from behind and rips his wallet out of his pocket and ends up running."

Mugging Map
(credit: CBS)

Materasso said that in addition to the victim calling police, a group of juveniles in the area saw the man running and hop into a car and flee. Police think another suspect was driving the car. They thought it was odd and told their parents, who also called police.

Police believe the man was targeted at the King Soopers at 120th and Sheridan. Materasso said the suspect can be seen watching the victim as he took out his wallet to pay cash for the groceries.

The surveillance images show the suspect inside King Soopers and a different image shows the suspect leaving in a red Dodge Neon.

Westminster
(credit: Westminster Police)

"This has really angered everybody at the police department; patrol officers, detectives, anyone that's heard of this; that someone would target an elderly adult, 91, and actually tackle him from behind," Materasso said. "We want and need everybody's help."

Police say the robber got away with a good amount of money. Investigators say it's common for the elderly to carry cash -- it's a generational thing, which makes them more of a target.

A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Westminster police at ci.westminster.co.us.

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