Man arrested in connection with purse snatching

Published 9:18 pm Thursday, March 31, 2016

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.: An arrest has been made in connection with a purse snatching that occurred Monday.

Gregory Lee Lassiter, 34, of Suffolk, was arrested Thursday evening and has been charged with robbery, identity theft, criminally receiving goods/services fraudulently, credit card theft, credit card forgery and credit card fraud, according to a city news release.

Lassiter

Lassiter

He is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail with no bond.

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Police say the 79-year-old victim was shopping with her daughter at Kohl’s in the 6200 block of College Drive about 2:14 p.m. Monday. As the women exited the store and approached their car, a black male snatched the woman’s purse and caused her to fall to the ground, suffering injuries.

On Tuesday, a white man used a credit card that was in the purse at a Chesapeake Square-area Target in two different transactions at 9:36 a.m. and 1:33 p.m. Surveillance photos were released earlier Thursday.

“This is another perfect example of what can be accomplished when the community, the media and law enforcement work as a team utilizing the extremely successful Crime Line program,” a city news release stated.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to the news release.

Earlier: Police are asking for the public’s assistance identifying a man who used a credit card belonging to the victim of a Monday purse snatching.

Police are seeking this man they say used a credit card belonging to a purse-snatching victim.

Police are seeking this man they say used a credit card belonging to a purse-snatching victim.

The man is described as a white male, 25 to 35 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a slim build, short brown hair and a close-cut beard and mustache. He used the card during two different transactions at the Chesapeake Square Target on Tuesday, at 9:36 a.m. and 1:33 p.m., according to a city press release.

Police say the 79-year-old victim was shopping with her daughter at Kohl’s in the 6200 block of College Drive about 2:14 p.m. Monday. As the women exited the store and approached their car, a black male snatched the woman’s purse and caused her to fall to the ground, suffering injuries.

The man who grabbed the purse was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with a medium build and wearing a white T-shirt. Witnesses said the man got into a tan, four-door vehicle, possibly an older-model Toyota Camry, which then sped away and exited the shopping center through the College Drive exit.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or text the keyword SPDVATIP and the tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters never have to give their names or appear in court, and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.