Juvenile Duo Charged with Salon Purse Snatching

Two juvenile girls wanted for stealing a woman’s handbag at a Long Beach nail salon were arrested and charged with grand larceny after police sought the media’s help in identifying the suspects.  

According to the Long Beach Police Department, the girls were wanted for snatching a woman’s handbag, which held her wallet, credit cards and iPhone, from George’s Nail Salon, at 14 East Park Ave., on May 11. Due to police department policy and the age of the suspects, no further information about the girls is available other than that they live outside of Long Beach, police said.

LBPD juvenile aid detectives located on suspect and charged her with grand larceny as a juvenile delinquent, and her case was referred to Nassau County Family Court. The police press release announcing the arrests didn't provide information on the second arrest, nor the date(s) of the arrests.

Two females suspected of stealing the handbag were captured on a surveillance camera in the salon, photos from which were released to the media in an effort to indentify them in June, and a reward of up to $5,000 was offered to anyone who could assist in their capture. Police said the suspects were located as a direct result of the media distribution of the surveillance photos.

“The assistance of the local media, the Nassau County Police Crime Stoppers Unit and area residents was invaluable in bringing these individuals to justice,” Sgt. Eric Cregeen, LBPD public information officer, said in a statement. “The suspects were identified through several calls to the NCPD Crime Stoppers Tip line."

Cregeen was not immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon.