90 days for purse snatcher

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

A South Okanagan woman who stole a purse from an 89-year-old woman in Summerland was sentenced to 90 days in prison, minus seven for time served, in Penticton court on Thursday.

Sarah Noreen Scott pleaded guilty to charges including possession of stolen property and theft $5,000 or under.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Vandersluys told the courtroom that on April 17, 2016, RCMP in Summerland received a report of two individuals that stole a purse from a walker while the owner was in a store.

Officers located a male and female suspect walking down the street, with contents of the purse strewn about nearby and on Scott’s person, along with a crack pipe.

There was no violence during the theft, Vandersluys said, but it was upsetting to the victim.

Following Scott's arrest, she was asked if she wanted to apologize. The court heard she wrote a note saying that "sometimes life pushes people to do terrible things."

Scott was released on a promise to appear, but was again arrested after stealing backpacks and purses valued at about $200 from Winners on Aug. 30.

Again she was released, and again she stole, about $150 worth of merchandise from the Superstore in Penticton on Sept. 3, where a loss prevention officer attempted to detain her and she fled, leaving behind her purse. A warrant was then issued and she was ultimately arrested.

Crown counsel requested a 90 to 120 day sentence, followed by a year of probation.

Defence lawyer Kathryn Lundman said her client was “full blown in her addiction” and argued for the lower end, 80 days.

Scott told the court she was sorry, prompting Judge Gale Sinclair to respond, "It's things that drug addicts do, and that she better get that under control."