Teen arrested after video shows purse snatching

PORTSMOUTH — A 16-year-old boy was arrested Monday after he was allegedly seen in a surveillance video stealing an elderly woman’s purse in the parking lot of Walmart on Lafayette Road Friday afternoon, then going into the store to make a purchase.

Surveillance footage from the store, released by the Portsmouth Police Department, shows the 16-year-old, wearing blue shorts, a red shirt, hat and sunglasses, waiting outside the Lafayette Road Walmart before walking slowly behind an elderly woman as she approaches her car to put groceries away. Once the woman opens her trunk and turns her back to the cart, the boy sneaks up to the cart and takes the purse, running away before she turns around.

Thevideolater shows the boy, who is a Portsmouth resident, going back into the store to buy something. 

Portsmouth police posted the video on its Facebook page Monday morning and later received information from a witness of the theft, according to Sgt. David Keaveny.

Keaveny said the juvenile was arrested at his home Monday morning and charged with theft. His name was not released because of his age, and cases of this nature are processed in juvenile court.

“This is a little out of the ordinary that it happened at her car in broad daylight and under surveillance,” Keaveny said, adding that there wasn’t much the woman could do to avoid it. He said suggestions to avoid a similar crime include putting your purse inside the car first and fastening a shopping cart belt around the purse.

"We always tell people in those situations to never fight or struggle,” Keaveny said.

Keaveny said police informed the victim of the arrest.

“The video shows that anyone can be a victim at any time,” Keaveny said.