Police: 2 arrested in theft of woman’s purse in ShopRite lot

A 76-year-old woman had her pocketbook stolen from a shopping cart outside a supermarket Thursday afternoon in New Hyde Park, Nassau County police said.

But, police said, arriving officers found the suspects in a nearby parking lot — and arrested them.

Police said the theft occurred outside a ShopRite store on New Hyde Park Road at about 3:30 p.m. As the victim loaded packages into her car, police said a man, later identified as Bradley Pearl, 32, of Vista Road, Plainview, approached her — and stole her pocketbook from the shopping cart. Pearl then fled the scene, police said.

But, police said, arriving officers spotted the getaway car, a black Lexus, which they stopped a short time later in a nearby parking lot on Dakota Drive. Police said an investigation revealed that Pearl had stolen the pocketbook. Pearl and the Lexus’ driver, Jillian Anselmo, 34, of Sheridan Avenue, Williston Park, were arrested at the scene, police said.

Pearl and Anselmo were both charged with fourth-degree grand larceny. They face arraignment Friday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”