Vernon police are reporting an attempted purse-snatching incident in Rockville.

At about 5 on Friday night, Vernon police responded to a report of an attempted robbery at the Courthouse Plaza, 20 East Main St., in Rockville, according to a news release.

A lone female was in the plaza parking lot when a minivan stopped next to her, police said. The vehicle was described as gray or primer-colored, police said.

A woman described as Hispanic-looking asked the walker for directions and had the woman walk closer to the van while pretending she couldn’t hear the woman’s directions, police said.

As the woman walked closer to the van, the woman in the van grabbed onto her purse and attempted to pull it from the woman’s grasp, police said.

Police said the van was driven by a black male who suddenly started pulling away while the two women struggled for control of the purse, police said.

The walker was able to hold onto her purse and the van fled the area, police said.

Police said the driver is described as a black male, approximately 40 years old and the Hispanic female is described as being approximately 30 years old.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Officer Christopher Hunt, at 860-871-9126, ext. 225 and refer to VPD case No. 12-1694.