A woman learned just how expensive and dangerous smoking can be after a man she stopped to give a cigarette and a light to, stole her pocketbook and another man threatened to shoot her.

The Union Public Safety Department is investigating the incident which occurred around 12:30 a.m. Monday at the intersection of West Henrietta and Lipsey Streets. The victim told the responding officer she and another woman stopped at the intersection to talk to some black males who’d yelled for them to stop. She said there were a total of six males, all of them wearing black hoodies, black bandannas over their faces and black gloves.

One of the males came up to the passenger side of the vehicle and asked the victim for a cigarette. The victim said she rolled down the window just a little bit to give him one and then rolled it down all the way to give him a light. She said that’s when he reached in the car and grabbed her pocketbook

The man took off running and the victim said she went to get out of the car when one of the other males told her that if she got out he would shoot her. Even though she didn’t see a gun, the victim said she stayed in the car. Instead, she told the driver of the car the first male had grabbed her pocketbook and to chase him with the vehicle. She said the thief had run toward Gault Avenue and as they were driving after him the driver called 911.

The victim said her pocketbook, which has an estimated value of $25, contained her driver’s license, personal records, perfume and $700.

The responding officer also questioned the driver who said the males appeared to be 14-17 years of age but all they could see of their faces was their eyes. While she didn’t see her friend’s pocketbook being snatched out of the car, the driver said she did hear one of the males threaten to shoot her friend.

Attempted Strong Armed Robbery

Officers are also investigating an incident in which a man on his way to a convenience store was attacked in an apparent robbery attempt.

The victim told the responding officer he was walking to the convenience store around 1 a.m. Saturday when he met up with a male wearing a black hoodie at the intersection of South Church and McBeth streets. He said the male told him to “give it up” and when he told him he didn’t have any money the male hit him in the forehead with some sort of blunt object and then cut him on his left arm.

The victim said he then walked to the emergency room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. The responding officer took photos of the cut on the victim’s arm and the swelling on his forehead.

Arrests

The following persons were arrested by the public safety department:

Stuart Brian Vinson, 32, 210 Haywood St., Buffalo, charged Wednesday with unlawful use of a phone.

Vianco Duane Dowdle, 36, 120 Aqua Lane, Union, charged Wednesday with assault and battery.

Lewis Richard Lloyd Jr., 22, 209 East Henrietta St., Union, charged Wednesday with trespass after notice.

Trez McCello Feaster, 44, 2990 Berry Farm Road, Carlisle, charged Friday with driving under the influence second offense.

Amy Quinn Owenby, 39, 307 Lakeside Drive, Union, charged Wednesday with shoplifting.

Joshua Nickolas Gardler, 26, 175 Pine St., Buffalo, charged Sunday with shoplifting.

Paul Michael Maness, 47, 407 South Boyce St., Union, charged Friday with disorderly conduct.

David Lee Byrd, 37, 207 Lawson Avenue, Union, charged Saturday with reckless driving, having no S.C. driver’s license and having no vehicle license.