FLORENCE — A man who came to pick up an impounded car is in jail charged with being involved in taking a purse from a 78-year-old woman, officials said.

Raymond Qvo Perez, 20, 575 Payne Creek, Russellville, is charged with first-degree theft of property. Warrants also have been issued for Daniel Luna, 24, of Russellville, who is accused of being involved in the theft, police said.

Reports indicate two people were involved in the incident that took place about 8 a.m. Saturday in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Florence police detective Drew Harless said police used surveillance video to get a description of the vehicle.

“We were able to find out who owned the vehicle, and they said Perez had borrowed it,” Harless said.

He said the vehicle was impounded, and Monday, Perez came to the police station to see about getting the vehicle back.

Harless said video surveillance shows the suspects driving around the Wal-Mart parking lot several times before parking near the side of the building.

In the surveillance video, a woman is seen getting out of her car. As she walks toward the store, one of the men gets out and walks behind her while the other man drives the car to the end of the parking lot, police said.

The man behind the woman, who police said is believed to be Luna, runs up, grabs the woman’s purse and wrestles it off her shoulder.

“Once he has the purse, he takes off running and the woman tries to give chase,” Harless said.

He said the man was picked up and the two men drove off.

The woman was not injured, police said.

Perez is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on bail of $5,000.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Luna is asked to call 256-768-2728 or Shoals Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.