Upper Darby woman charged with purse snatching
An Upper Darby woman who allegedly used her children as a diversion while stealing handbags from shoppers was arrested yesterday.
An Upper Darby woman who allegedly used her children as a diversion while stealing handbags from shoppers was arrested yesterday.
Kelly Ann McCaw, 29, who was staying at an apartment in the 1800 block of Garrett Road, was charged with two counts of theft and receiving stolen property after police say she stole purses at two Acme markets in Upper Darby this week. McCaw admitted to purse snatching in three Havertown stores in recent weeks as well, and more charges are expected, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.
"She's stealing to support her crack addiction," Chitwood said at a news conference yesterday. "But the sad commentary is that she's using her children."
McCaw was held at the Delaware County jail in lieu of 10 percent of $40,000 cash bail. Her children were left in the care of her boyfriend, Chitwood said.
According to Chitwood, McCaw approached shoppers while carrying her 7-month-old daughter in a baby seat. She would also take her 8-year-old daughter. She targeted women who left their handbags in their shopping carts, and would ask them to reach an item on a lower shelf, explaining that she had a bad back, authorities said.
When her victims turned away, McCaw would snatch their purses and hide them under her baby's blanket, according to police.
McCaw's most recent alleged victim, an 80-year-old woman at the Acme market in the 5300 block of Baltimore Pike around 12:30 p.m. yesterday, was the only woman who noticed right away that her pocketbook was missing, Chitwood said. McCaw fled the store when the woman confronted her, and a store employee took down her license plate number.
