Sheriff Deputies Catch, Charge Reported Westminster Purse Snatchers

Sheriff's deputies report that they found and charged two men who forcefully stole a woman's purse outside the Rite Aid in the Carroll Plaza Shopping Center Thursday night.

Just after 11 p.m. Thursday night, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to reports of a purse snatching at the Carroll Plaza Shopping Center.  The two males were intercepted a short distance from the scene by Master De puty Michael Fitzgerald, police said.

According to police, at approximately 10:55 p.m., the victim was walking on the sidewalk from the Rite Aid, when she was approached the two men, one of whom asked the victim for a cigarette.  After complying with the request, the man, later identified as 42-year-old Paul Matthew Durkee of Marriottsville, grabbed the victim’s purse and following a brief struggle, fled with the purse, police said.

Durkee tripped and fell a short distance from the scene where he dropped the purse, which was recovered by a nearby witness, according to police reports. The second man, later identified as 35-year-old Shawn David Burgess of Westminster, reportedly helped Durkee to his feet, and the two fled a short distance before being apprehended by police.

Police said Durkee and Burgess were taken to Carroll County Central Booking where they’re awaiting a hearing before the District Court Commissioner on charges including robbery, assault, theft and destruction of property. 

The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the case.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Dan Simmons at 410-386-2569, or the toll free anonymous TIPS Hotline at 1-888-399-TIPP (8477).