Westport Woman Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Money from Family Friend: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 50-year-old Westport woman was arrested on burglary and larceny charges Tuesday after she allegedly broke into the Clinton Avenue home of a friend of hers and stole money, according to Westport police.

"The complainant reported that starting this past March his wife began to notice that money had been taken from her purse (which was located in a home office) on several different occasions," police wrote in a statement. "All these thefts occurred during the overnight hours. As many people had access to the home, the complainant set up a surveillance system in hopes of identifying a suspect."

The alleged thief was eventually identified as Elizabeth Rose, a friend of the family, police said.

A woman allegedly broke into home at about 4:45 a.m. on June 17 and was seen on surveillance video taking money out of a purse, but at first it was difficult to determine whether it was Rose, police said.

Then on September 28, just after midnight, another break-in occurred.

"The complainant advised that this time the surveillance footage clearly showed the suspect’s face, which he positively identified as Elizabeth Rose," police wrote. "The footage showed Ms. Rose rummaging through the purse and taking the cash. Although Ms. Rose was a family friend and visited the victim’s home on several occasions, she did not have permission to enter during the overnight hours while the family slept."

Police obtained a warrant for Rose's arrest on charges of first-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny, and she turned herself into police custody on Nov. 15.

She was released after posting a $10,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Nov. 30.

Photo: Elizabeth Rose. Photo credit: Westport Police Department