Fresnans held in purse snatchings

Three Fresno men were arrested Saturday night in connection with a series of purse snatchings in Fresno and Clovis, the Fresno Police Department said.

Six women were the victims of purse snatchings starting Thursday night in Fresno. In each incident, one or two suspects would approach a woman leaving a retail store, violently grab their purse and flee in a gold-colored Saturn, police said.

A Fresno police helicopter crew spotted a gold Saturn speeding in downtown Fresno at 9 p.m. Saturday, about an hour after the last reported theft in Clovis. Police stopped the car and found evidence connecting the driver, a 25-year-old early-release probationer with an outstanding warrant for violating his probation, to the crimes.

Officers learned that two other suspects, a 33-year-old parolee on state-mandated early-release parole and his 18-year-old brother, had been dropped off at a restaurant and were later arrested.

All the suspects were booked into the Fresno County Jail for robbery and theft-related charges and the Saturn was impounded.