Crime victim fights back through e-mails

By DON JACOBS
Scripps Howard News Service
Thursday, May 17, 2007

When a Knoxville woman's purse was pilfered from her vehicle while she was getting gas, she harnessed the power of the Internet to alert other women of the danger.

The e-mails, police said, helped reduce the number of potential victims and elicited tips that helped officers nab the suspect. Police arrested a suspect on the same day the 39-year-old woman sent out her e-mail alert.

"It was a good effort between the police and the public," said Knoxville Police Department Sgt. Tammy Mattina.

Rafael Mazyck, 24, faced five charges of theft and one count of evading arrest."Right now, we've linked him to eight cases and are talking to Blount County, also," Mattina said.

The maroon Dodge Durango that Mazyck was driving during the thefts was reported stolen last month in North Charleston, S.C., Mattina said.

Mazyck, Mattina said, would cruise area gas stations watching for women either filling up their vehicles or walking inside the business to pay for their purchase. If he didn't see a purse dangling from the woman's arm, Mattina said, the suspect knew he had a potential victim.

"He would just sit and watch for victims, like a predator," Mattina said.

The Knoxville woman who initiated the e-mail requested anonymity. Her purse was taken about 8 p.m. May 9 while she paid for gas.

While visiting the next evening another gas station where her stolen credit card had been used, the woman recognized the Durango as the same sport utility vehicle she had seen when her purse was taken. She jotted down the license plate information and on May 11 fired off e-mails to co-workers and friends.

Mattina said police already were looking for the Durango when tips prompted by the e-mail started flowing in.

(Contact Don Jacobs of The Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee at www.knoxnews.com.)