What not to do when stealing a purse

Police: Suspect poses for photo with women shortly before robbing them

updated 10:14 a.m. ET May 8, 2008

BENSALEM, Pa. - Police say they had no trouble tracking down a Pennsylvania robbery suspect, because the victims had taken his picture while chatting with him at a bar a short time before the theft.

The suspect, Andre Smith, struck up a conversation with a group of women at a bachelorette party at the Bensalem Township taproom early Sunday morning, the township's public safety director, Fred Harran, said Wednesday. The women were taking photos of each other when Smith jumped in front of the camera, Harran said.

Smith later was ejected from the bar for allegedly harassing customers.

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When two women in the group left the bar to go to a nearby convenience store, Smith robbed them of their purses, Harran said. The women recognized Smith — who apparently did not recognize them — and gave investigators a copy of their photo, Harran said.

Later Sunday, a detective went around to local apartment complexes looking for Smith and spotted him, Harran said.

Smith was arrested on robbery and theft charges and is being held on $50,000 bail. Electronic court records did not list an attorney for him.