Crime & Safety
Man Charged With Robbery, Assault After Allegedly Punching Woman in Face, Taking Wallet
The woman's husband chased after the suspect after his wife was attacked in a parking lot behind Commercial Street.
WORCESTER, MA—A Worcester man is facing charges after police say he approached a couple in a parking lot, punched the woman in the face and took her wallet. When the woman's husband chased the suspect, his tailing efforts helped police find him to make an arrest.
On June 15, around 9 p.m. Worcester Police responded to a parking lot located behind 250 Commercial St. for a report of an unarmed robbery.
A husband, wife and one other male witness told officers that they were walking in the parking lot when a man (later identified as Albert Hines, Worcester) came up to the woman, punched her her in the face, which knocked her over, and snagged her wallet. When Hines took off, the husband gave chase, following him down Norwich Street. Hines ducked into an alleyway, and a witness said he stood by the entrance of the alley until police arrived.
Officers searched the alley, including dumpsters, and checked for unlocked doors, continuing down the street to another alleyway. They found Hines in an unlit stairway heading down toward a door at 364 Main St. He was ordered to stop and show his hands.
Albert Hines, 47, 19 King Street, Worcester, was placed under arrest and charged with Unarmed Robbery, Assault and Battery and Trespassing.
Police found the wallet near a dumpster about 15 feet from where Hines was hiding. The wallet contained credit cards and identification belonging to the victim. The cash on Hines was equal to that that was missing from the wallet.
Hines was arraigned today at the Worcester county District Courthouse.
Worcester EMS arrived at the scene and treated the 38-year-old female victim for superficial injuries to her face.
