Gold Bar woman arrested in theft, spending spree in Wenatchee

Published 11:31 pm Monday, July 20, 2009

WENATCHEE — A 42-year-old Gold Bar woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of multiple counts of theft after she allegedly stole a purse and went on a spending spree.

Wenatchee Police Sgt. Cherie Smith said the incident started around 4:10 p.m. Sunday, when a woman reported that her purse had been stolen from a shopping cart at Safeway.

About 15 minutes later, a security person at J.C. Penney called police to report that a woman tried to buy a $4,700 diamond ring with a credit card. When the woman was asked to show identification, she left the store. A store employee followed the woman outside and told police she went to Target and then gave police the license plate of her car, Smith said.

A police officer found the car nearby at Walgreen’s and found the suspect attempting to buy $420 in gift cards. The woman saw the officer and ran toward the door but was caught, Smith said.

It was later determined that the woman withdrew $800 from a cash machine at Albertsons with the victim’s debit card, Smith said. She then went to JC Penney and Target, where she spent $1,022 on a PlayStation game, iPod, portable DVD player and a prepaid phone card, police said.

The woman was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on suspicion of first- degree theft, four counts of second-degree theft, four counts of second-degree identity theft and resisting arrest.