Footprints in the snow led St. Paul police to two boys — 13 and 14 — whom they arrested in connection with reports of women being forcibly robbed of their purses.

Police are looking into whether the teens arrested early Wednesday had been involved with other reports of women being robbed and assaulted, said Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman.

“This is an example of officers working together to quickly respond to crime,” Linders said.

The robbery suspects were seen Tuesday night leaving in a sport-utility vehicle, which turned out to be stolen earlier that day from Cornerstone Montessori School on Ames Avenue.

A 31-year-old woman reported she went in the school to pick up her children and, when she returned, her white Ford Explorer was gone. The keys were with the vehicle when it was stolen, Linders said.

Then, at about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to Skyline Towers on St. Anthony Avenue where a 38-year-old woman said two young males grabbed her arms. The woman fought to hang onto her purse, but they ran away with it and her phone.

She told authorities she saw them getting into a white Ford Explorer.

About 15 minutes later, a 55-year-old woman reported she was robbed outside the University Avenue Target store. She said two males ran up behind her, punched her in the shoulder, grabbed her purse and ran away. They left in a white SUV.

On Wednesday, shortly before 1 a.m., officers in the area of Laurel Avenue and Victoria Street found a vehicle that matched the description from the robberies. When they approached, two males ran away. Related Articles Two men face felony charges in Bloomington home invasion

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Police set up a perimeter and, after following footprints in the snow, arrested two teens.

Officers gathered information that indicated the boys stole the vehicle and robbed the two women on Tuesday night, Linders said. Police continue to investigate.