WESTPORT, CT — A 59-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania woman was arrested last week on larceny, identity theft and payment card charges stemming from a 2023 incident at the Westport HomeGoods store, according to police.
Tefla Wills is accused of being involved in the theft of a shopper's wallet at the Post Road East store, on Feb. 13, 2023.
The victim told police she was shopping in the store when a man and woman approached her. Police said the woman began talking to the victim while the man disappeared from view.
"Immediately after the pair walked away, the victim noticed that her wallet was missing from her purse, which had been left in her shopping cart," Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso wrote in a statement. "Among the items contained in the wallet was a credit card that was immediately used to
make a series of unauthorized purchases at nearby stores."
While trying to cancel the card, the victim learned that four purchases totaling $777.38 had been attempted and two had been successfully processed, according to police.
Investigators identified Wills as the woman suspected in the incident and obtained a warrant for her arrest, police said.
Wills voluntarily went to the Westport Police Department on Sept. 16 in connection with the warrant.
She was charged with fifth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny, charging more than $500 on a revoked payment card, conspiracy to commit charging more than $500 on a revoked payment card, second-degree identity theft and conspiracy to commit second-degree identity theft.
Wills was released after posting bond on bail of $10,000, and she is scheduled to in Stamford Superior Court on Sept. 30.
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