Crossdressing robber leaves behind fake breast

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A crossdressing robber who snatched a 74-year-old woman's purse in Port St. Lucie, Fla. left behind a potential clue to his identity in the form of a faux breast that popped out of his tube top, police said.

The alleged female-impersonating robber hopped in a four-door silver getaway car occupied by two other men in drag and fled, leaving the victim and the imitation breast - a water-filled condom in a white gym sock - at the scene.

Gloria Fournier was pushed to the ground and injured in the incident at a Sears Essentials store. On Wednesday, she recalled the ordeal and showed a large bruise on her left arm she said was caused by her purse being pulled off.

"They took everything I had," Fournier said. "Thank God I didn't break my hip."

Police believe the three cross-dressers identified Fournier while she was at a nearby store. Surveillance cameras there captured footage of the cross-dressers, including clips where the assailant adjusts his breasts and buttocks in a mirror.

"We believe she probably was targeted based on her age, the fact that she was an older woman and by herself," said Officer Robert Vega, police spokesman.

Fournier said she thought it odd as one of the cross-dressers looked at her, and she noted at least one of them while in the men's and ladies' departments. When she drove out, Fournier also spotted one walking across the parking lot.

"I thought it was strange, but I just continued on to go to Sears," she said.

After Fournier made a purchase at Sears she came outside and one of the cross-dressers jumped her, knocking her to the ground and stealing her purse. She initially thought her attacker was a woman, but soon learned otherwise.

"I started screaming, saying the woman had stolen my purse, and (a witness) said, 'That wasn't a woman,'" Fournier recalled. "I said, 'Are you sure?' and she said 'I'm positive,' she said, 'See what fell out of the top of his blouse.'"

That, according to police, was a simulated breast made of a water-filled condom in a white gym sock. Police plan to process the condom for fingerprints and also have DNA analysis done on two suspected chest hairs recovered between the breast and sock.

The attacker then got in a four-door silver car with the other cross-dressers. The men could face charges, including robbery by sudden snatching and aggravated battery.

(Will Greenlee writes for the Treasure Coast Newspapers in Florida)