Woman caught on video snatching bag

A mother of two will have to remain in custody until November when she is expected to be sentenced for stealing $10,000 worth of groceries.

The incident, which was captured on surveillance footage, shows the defendant Rochelle Ewen removing a complainant's shopping bag from the ground in a wholesale in downtown Kingston. It was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, that on August 8, the complainant went into a wholesale to purchase items and placed her bag on the ground. Moments after, Ewen took the bag from the store and ran away with it. The bag contained a Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued at CDN$350 (approximately J$) and non-perishable items such as tin sausages, snacks and box milk.

Ewen explained to Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake-Powell that she went into the wholesale to purchase items as well, when a woman known to her told her to take up the complainant's bag.

"A lady told me to take up the bag and follow her around the road. By time I come back to shop, everybody a harass me and a ask me for the bag. Same time, police hold on to me and carry me go station," Ewen explained, following her plea of guilt to simple larceny. Ewen was also charged with false pretence. Prosecutors contend that when she was asked her name by the police, she falsely declared that her last name was 'Brown'. She also pleaded guilty to that offence.

Judge Blake-Powell requested a social enquiry report into the matter and that Ewen be made the subject of a fingerprint order. She was remanded in custody until November 20.

- T.T.