Cops: Woman with 31 aliases stole from cop's wife at Christmas dinner

Wanda Singleton's name, and all 31 of her aliases, are probably at the top of Santa's naughty list this year.

Singleton, 46, was caught with her hand in a cop's wife's purse when she tried stealing from the woman as a group of Upper Darby police officers and their spouses waited for a table in Center City last night to have a Christmas dinner, said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Chitwood said he had taken seven officers from his bike patrol unit and their guests out to a Christmas dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House on Broad Street near Spruce, but they had a bit of a wait before being seated because the place was "mobbed."

As the group was waiting, Upper Darby Sgt. Jim Reif, commanding officer of the bike unit, spotted Singleton reaching into an officer's wife's purse and taking her wallet, Chitwood said.

"I'm at the bar and I hear 'You're under arrest!' and it's one of my guys," Chitwood said. "He had a woman by the hand."

Upper Darby police held Singleton until city police officers arrived on scene and placed her under arrest. Singleton was charged with theft and related offenses, according to a city police spokeswoman.

Singleton has 31 aliases, nine dates of birth and more than 50 arrests associated with her, Chitwood said.

"So, Merry Christmas from the Upper Darby Police Department to ... whatever her name is," Chitwood said.