A suspect in a purse theft Sunday in Boston was arrested when she returned to the scene of the crime to retrieve her cell phone, which she had dropped during the robbery.
Mary Gallas, 37, of Boston is charged with armed robbery and assault and battery on a victim over 65 years of age. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
Shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, Boston police were called to a report of an armed robbery at the CVS store at 400 Tremont St. Upon arrival, officers met with an elderly woman who said that while shopping, she was approached from behind by a female suspect who pushed her to the ground and stole her purse.
The suspect - later identified as Gallas - then fled the store on foot. A Good Samaritan was able to locate and recover the purse a short distance away on the Arlington Street overpass bridge.
Officers also recovered a brown-handled knife which had been discarded by the suspect in front of the store.
A short time later, as officers were still on scene investigating, Gallas returned to the scene of the crime in an attempt to locate her cell phone, which she had dropped during the incident. She was arrested without incident.
