Purse Snatcher Arrested While Wife Wears Stolen Loot: SFPD

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A 55-year-old San Francisco man was arrested Thursday for grand theft and other violations in connection with a purse stolen from the vehicle of a woman pumping gas, according to San Francisco Police Department investigators.

The 61-year-old woman was filling her tank at a service station in the 1000 block of Harrison Street shortly after 3 p.m. Jan. 6 and noticed when she was done that the passenger side door was open, and her purse was gone.

She filed a report at the Mission Police Station, noting that the contents of the purse included cash, credit and identification cards, and a family heirloom necklace given to her by her mother.

A check of surveillance video helped investigators identify the suspect and his vehicle, police said.

The Hyundai Sonata used in the theft was detained in a traffic stop near McAllister and Gough streets about 7:50 p.m. Friday and 55-year-old Kevin McWay of San Francisco was taken into custody, police said.

"The victim's purse and necklace were located on McWay's wife who was also in the car," police said in a news release. "The stolen items were recovered and returned to the victim."

McWay was booked at San Francisco County Jail for grand theft, unauthorized use of identifying information, possession of stolen property, and theft of access cards.

The investigation remains active and anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.

Bay City News Service