Kelowna RCMP arrest purse snatching suspect

An arrest has been made in connection to a purse snatching incident in Rutland on Thursday.

RCMP say a 76-year-old woman fell in the parking lot of the Save-On-Foods store at the Plaza 33 shopping centre.

While she was on the ground injured, a man took her purse.

RCMP believe the thief is the same man who went into the store to report that the woman had fallen.

Surveillance photos were distributed to the media after the crime, and shortly after 6 p.m., a member of the public spotted the suspect back at the Plaza 33 shopping centre and called police.

RCMP converged on the area and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

“Along with recovering the victim’s personal identification and bank card, the victim’s purse had also been found by yet another observant citizen inside the dumpster of a nearby business,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said in a press release. “Arrangements will be made to reunite the woman with her belongings, at which point a determination will be made as to whether or not any of her property remains missing.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "Along with recovering the victim's personal identification and bank card, the victim's purse had also been found by yet another observant citizen inside the dumpster of a nearby business," Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey said in a press release. "Arrangements will be made to reunite the woman with her belongings, at which point a determination will be made as to whether or not any of her property remains missing."

The suspect, a 32-year-old Kelowna man faces potential charges.  He is expected to appear in Court on March 16 of next year.