Nashville Church Purse Snatcher Arrested In Alabama: Police

NASHVILLE, TN -- A serial church thief accused of returning to his old ways and robbing a woman leaving a Nashville bible study was arrested in Alabama Wednesday.

Gilbert Ostring Jr., 48, faces vehicle burglary and theft charges in Scottsboro, Ala. in addition to charges waiting for him in Nashville after he allegedly drove up to a 70-year-old woman in the parking lot of Lebanon Road Church of Christ April 30, asking for directions to nearby shelters. As she approached, Ostring reached through the window and grabbed her purse, ripping it from her hands and causing her to fall to the ground.

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Ostring was released from prison in June 2017 after serving time for theft, forgery, identity theft, fraud and assault and he was charged five times in 2010 for stealing credit cards and wallets from women at St. George's Episcopal in Belle Meade, Hillsboro Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, Donelson Church of Christ and St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Community.

The woman attacked at the Lebanon Road Church of Christ broke her hand and suffered some facial injuries.

Photo via Scottsboro, Ala. Police