Woman, 79, Robbed In LI Shopping Center Parking Lot: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — A man was arrested after he robbed a woman's purse in a Riverhead shopping center parking lot Sunday evening, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, the incident took place at 6:35 p.m. in the ShopRite parking lot on Route 58. A woman, 79, was walking toward ShopRite when an unknown man confronted her and grabbed her purse hard enough to break its handle, police said.

He fled on foot to the DSW store, where police found him and arrested him, authorities said.

Erick Contreras Guevara, 22, of Flanders, was arrested and charged with third-degree robbery, a felony; as well as obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, misdemeanors, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have seen the incident is asked to call Riverhead police at 631-727-4500. All calls will be kept confidential.