Couple Nabbed In String Of Purse Snatching Incidents
MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania state police arrested a Delaware couple on Monday morning suspected of robbing at least four women in grocery store parking lots in two states.
Police arrested 47-year-old John Reilly after a traffic stop in Media and took his wife Deborah into custody a short time later. They said that the Reillys were identified through video surveillance tape, captured in the parking lot of the Concordville Acme.
The couple is suspected of two incidents there -- one in November and one last month -- in which women had their purses snatched from their shopping carts as they loaded groceries into their car.
Police said Reillys' van matches the description of the getaway vehicle and a search of the van turned up numerous purses.
That led Delaware state police to charge the couple in two similar cases, including one last week in which the victim was injured.
Police said a 77-year-old woman in that incident was putting groceries in her car in the Shop Rite parking lot in Stanton when she spotted a woman grabbing her purse. Police said she tried to grab it back, and in the ensuing struggle fell against the fleeing car and was dragged a short way before letting go of the purse.
Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio.
