HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man was charged in connection with trying to steal a tourist’s purse at gunpoint.
Anthony Leo Wabol was charged with attempted second-degree robbery as a second-degree felony for an alleged purse snatching on Saturday evening.
According to the magistrate’s complaint, officers with the Guam Police Department responded to a theft of property complaint at Garden Villa Hotel in Tumon where they met with a woman who reported she was with her friends when she was approached by a man who tried to grab her purse.
“She stated that the unknown male had a black handgun pointed at her and that he was wearing a sweat shirt, was slim built and was wearing a face mask,” the complaint stated.
A security guard who saw the man, later identified as Wabol, chased after him, but Wabol got into the passenger seat of a red Mazda CX-3 which fled the area.
Two days later, on Monday evening, the Mazda was located in Tumon being driven by Wabol. In the car, a black pistol determined to be a BB gun was on the front passenger seat and was confiscated by officers.
According to the complaint, officers took a photo of Wabol and showed it to the victim, who positively identified him as the man who tried to take her purse.
The complaint also stated Wabol was on probation for a 2019 felony case, and he has an active bench warrant.
Since the alleged victim in the case was a tourist, Wabol’s new charge has a vulnerable victim special allegation.
Wabol’s attempted robbery charge and special allegation carries a maximum sentence of 35 years, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
After being charged, Wabol was committed to the Department of Corrections on $10,000 cash bail.
The Garden Villa Hotel as seen Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Tumon.
