purse snatching; bag snatching; snatcher
Refers to the act of snatching a handbag or purse, typically from a person on the street, or the person who commits such a crime. Often used in crime reports and warnings.
駅前でひったくりが多発している。
There have been many purse snatchings in front of the station.
To avoid being a victim of bag snatching, don't carry your bag on the road side.
強盗 (robbery) implies violence or threat, whereas ひったくり is a quick snatch without direct confrontation.
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 引ったくり is also seen but less common.
Kanji spelling using 引く; acceptable but less common than kana.
Rarely used kanji form.
Derived from the verb 引ったくる (ひったくる, 'to snatch away'), which is a compound of 引く (ひく, 'to pull') and 手繰る (たぐる, 'to haul in'). The noun form ひったくり refers to the act or the perpetrator.