Arrest Made In Purse Theft In New Canaan: Update

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan police arrested a 53-year-old Norwalk woman this week in connection with a July 5 purse theft from the Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop on Main Street, according to Lt. Jason Ferraro.

Lida A. Martinez, of Olmstead Place, was charged with sixth larceny on Tuesday evening after she had been identified as a suspect in the theft through the department's posting of surveillance photos of the incident on social media.

"On 07/09/19 at approximately [9 p.m.], Martinez came to the New Canaan Police Department to discuss the theft of the purse," Ferraro stated. "Martinez stated she took the purse with the intention of returning it to the rightful owner. The owner of the purse was subsequently contacted and it was determined that cash was missing from the purse."

On Monday, New Canaan police posted a description of the incident and the photos on its Instagram page.

"The victim was eating at Baskin-Robbins and forgot her purse on the chair," police stated on the Instagram page, adding that the incident occurred between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the 5th. "The suspect (women in green/yellow shirt) took victim's purse and put it in her bag after looking around for a camera."

After she was issued a misdemeanor summons on Tuesday, Martinez was released on a promise to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on July 23.