Miami Purse Thief Video Shows Janelle Della-Libera’s Wild Dania Beach Gas Station Ride On Snatcher’s Windshield

Janelle Della-Libera is the subject of a shocking new video, captured last Saturday, showing a purse snatch and the woman’s valiant fight to stop the thief that was only partly successful. In the end, Della-Libera admitted that the purse wasn’t “worth it” and that the man could have “killed” her, as reported by WCMH and Local 10.

According to the Daily Mail, the Florida purse thief was still able to get away with $2,000 worth of equipment, including her reading glasses, sunglasses, and a cellphone, but that Della-Libera was able to save her Kate Spade purse, said to retail for $300, as well as her credit cards and wallet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHabFrJd1zc

In the video, which was reportedly shot at the Mobil gas station located 3991 Stirling Road in Dania Beach, which is located about 30 miles from Miami, the suspect, whose identity and whereabouts appear to continue to elude authorities, can be seen sneakily entering the driver’s door of Della-Libera’s SUV that has dark, tinted windows, perhaps suggesting to the purse snatcher that the owner of the vehicle, who was filling it with gas on the other side, might not notice a quick move to rob her purse, and whatever else presented itself in the front seat of her vehicle.

The speed with which the robber was able to surprise her, as well as his brazenness perhaps, led Janelle Della-Libera to describe the purse snatching as occurring in the “blink of an eye.”

Della-Libera can be seen crawling over the hood and windshield of the suspect’s vehicle, and then forcing her arm and body between the driver’s door frame and the door, to prevent the suspect from closing it.

While the suspect was slamming the door on Della-Libera, turning, and accelerating, the woman was thrown to the ground, all the while maintaining an iron grip on her purse, continuing to fight with the suspect, and attempting to stop him from getting away.

Once Janelle Della-Libera was on the ground, her leg got caught under the rear tire of the suspect’s car.

“Doctors said she was lucky not to have a shattered leg,” WCMH wrote. Paramedics with the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue were called and the shaken woman was taken to a local hospital by her husband, Giovanni Genoa.

“He just kept cursing and calling me names in an attempt to scare me and get me off, but I think I literally scared him to death, which is what caused him to drive off,” the shaken subject of the viral purse video stated.

Della-Libera suffered from a sprain, cuts, and bruises, and is reported to be required to use crutches for the “next few weeks,” but is expected to make a full recovery.

“As you can imagine, she’s sore all over,” Giovanni Genao was quoted with regard to the incident captured in the video of a strange man stealing his wife’s purse and other belongings. “Her ankle looks like a sprain for the moment, but she has to follow up with an orthopedic doctor. We just hope they catch this guy.”

The Sun-Sentinel has reported on issues with the couple’s 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan concerning the unlocking and opening of the door that allows access for refueling while the driver’s door is locked. The design of the Volkswagen necessitates the operator to walk back to the driver’s door to lock it, something Janelle Della-Libera reportedly failed to do, perhaps leaving her vulnerable.

“She unlocked the gas door, and failed to re-lock the car,” Genao was quoted by the Sun-Sentinel. “In hindsight, she wishes she’d done this.”

The alleged purse thief is described as having a white goatee, balding, and wearing black shorts and a black tank-top during the incident caught in the gas station video. Anyone with information with regard to the suspect in the purse snatching video may call Crime Stoppers in Broward County at 954-493-8477.

[Feature Image by Watch Life 1/YouTube]