Shaw's Plaza Purse Thief Arrested

An East Bridgewater woman was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly stealing a purse from an unsuspecting shopper in the Shaw's parking lot.

Courtney Nichole Mills, 20, of Andrew Road, East Bridgewater will be charged by Easton Police for unarmed robbery after she was arrested by Taunton Police.

Easton Police Chief Allen Krajcik said officials received a call at approximately 10:30 a.m. from a woman in the parking lot at Five Corners who was pushing a baby carriage. The woman said another female approached her asking her for directions.

Krajcik said the woman who asked for directions then snatched the caller's purse and fled in a stolen vehicle.

The victim followed the alleged thief down Bay Road and was able to report a registration number to police. Area police were notified, Krajcik said.

"Taunton police called reporting that they had located the purse on the side of the road on Harvey Street in Taunton," he said. "As a Taunton officer was driving back toward Easton to return the purse to Easton Police, he observed the suspect [Mills] in the stolen car and stopped her."

Krajcik said Taunton police also have their own charges stemming from previous incidents.