Royal Oak Woman Charged In Purse-Snatching Incident At Troy Church: PD

TROY, MI — A 39-year-old Royal Oak woman is facing charges in connection with a purse-snatching incident at a Troy church, according to police.

Police said officers were called to the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church on Livernois for a report of an assault on April 1 at 2 p.m.

The victim told officers that she had been giving money to the 39-year-old Royal Oak woman to help her get her affairs in order, according to police.

The victim told officers the money was a loan and that the Royal Oak woman agreed to pay her back, according to police.

The Royal Oak woman then came into the church in the afternoon on April 1 and asked to have coffee with the victim, according to police.

While the victim was making coffee, the Royal Oak woman grabbed the woman's purse and ran out of the church, according to police.

The victim chased the woman out of the church trying to get her purse back, but the suspected purse-snatcher pushed her to the ground, according to police.

The suspected purse-snatcher tried to flee the scene in a taxi, but was stopped by multiple people who kept her at the church until officers arrived, according to police.

The Royal Oak woman was charged with unarmed robbery and larceny. She was placed in the Troy Jail, according to police.

If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison for the unarmed robbery charge.

Police did not immediately release the Royal Oak woman's name.