Purse snatcher nabbed

WARREN — Police are urging women to keep their purses in hand during holiday shopping after arresting a Warren man   who they say was involved in several drive-by purse snatchings.

Detective Jeffrey Hoolihan said Tuesday that the city began to experience a rash of purse snatchings beginning Aug. 17.

They included two thefts outside Giant Eagle in the Elm Road Plaza and two at Giant Eagle on Mahoning Avenue.

On Nov. 17, police arrested James Davis, 22, of Salt Springs Road, Warren, in the plaza and charged him with two counts of felony theft.

Hoolihan said Davis is on parole for similar theft offenses. His alleged involvement in the four thefts will be presented directly to the Trumbull County grand jury.

He said Davis would watch for women who had their purses atop a shopping buggy, drive up, grab the purse and speed away.