Cops Looking for Suspects Who Allegedly Stole Purse from 83-Year-Old Woman in Yes, a Church Parking Lot

UPDATE: 09/28/2022 1434   Police are asking residents for assistance finding not only the suspects but also the purse in an alleged robbery on September 26, 2022.

Updated Post:

Original Story:

Police are asking for help from the public identifying and locating the suspects in a robbery that took place in a church parking lot in Oneida County.

Officers were called to the parking lot of the Transfiguration Church, located at 111 Ridge Street, near West Street and Henry Street, in Rome, New York at approximately 7:41pm on Monday, September 26, 2022.

Responding officers say that they saw the 83-year-old victim when they arrived.

According to a written release from the Rome Police Department (RPD), the woman "was walking to her vehicle she noticed a group of approximately (three or four) young males in the parking lot. The victim got into her vehicle and then two of the males ran to her vehicle and one of them reached inside the vehicle and grabbed the victim’s purse. After a brief struggle the male ran off with her purse and the other suspects followed.

The woman was not injured during the alleged robbery.

The suspects, who are believed to have been captured in surveillance video recently made available by police, are believed to be between 16 and 17 years old.  In the video four juveniles are seen walking through the parking lot of the church at approximately 7:35pm, just before the incident allegedly took place.

Anyone with information that might be helpful to the investigation is asked to call the Rome Police Department's TIP line at: (315) 339.7744.  The RPD's Detective Division is working with the Juvenile Aid Division on this case.

Anonymous calls, e-mail, and messages may also be left with Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers by calling: 1-866-730-8477 (TIPS), by visiting www.mohawkvalleycrimestoppers.com, or by using the P3 Tips mobile app. All information received by Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers is 100% confidential.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE:   This post is for informational purposes and is based largely on information received from the Rome Police Department.  Regardless of any statements or photographs regarding potential evidence presented or accusations alleged, the reader is reminded that all suspects and arrested persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.  At the time of this posting no additional information is available.]