A purse snatching suspect accused of targeting Asian women with expensive bags has been arrested for a handbag robbery that saw a mother and her young daughter being violently dragged down a flight of stairs.

Pablo Cabrera, 26, was caught on surveillance video targeting the woman and her child at an outdoor office block in San Jose, California on May 6.

Surveillance footage from the building showed the mother holding her daughter's hand as they walked up the flight of stairs.

Pablo Cabrera, 26, (bottom left) was caught on surveillance video targeting the woman and her child at an outdoor office block in San Jose, California on May 6

The video showed a man approaching from a distance before he followed the pair up the stairs and lunged for the woman's purse.

Police said Cabrear 'violently pulled' the bag from the victim, which caused the woman and her daughter to be dragged down the stairs.

Detectives said surveillance video of the robbery showed Cabrera fleeing the area in a black Lexus.

Using a description of Cabrear and his vehicle, police said they were able to link Cabrera to other purse snatching robberies.

Police said all of Cabrear's other alleged victims were Asian female carrying expensive purses.

The video showed Cabrera approaching from a distance before he followed the pair up the stairs and lunged for the woman's purse

Surveillance footage from the building showed the mother holding her daughter's hand as they walked up the flight of stairs before Cabrera approached from behind

The video showed Cabrera approaching from a distance before he followed the pair up the stairs and lunged for the woman's purse

'Cabrera attacked victims from behind, grabbed their purse, and ran to his car,' police said.

Cabrear was eventually arrested at his home on Saturday and police say they found evidence linking him to other robberies.

He was out on parole for burglary.

Cabrear was subsequently booked into Santa Clara County Jail for robbery and parole violation.

'We are fortunate this predator was caught before any more members of the public were victimized,' San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said.