Thief injures woman as he takes her purse Police Blotter

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

Police are investigating a strong-arm robbery in a CVS Pharmacy parking lot at 351 S. Main St. early Friday evening.

A 73-year-old woman was heading to her car after shopping at the store when she was approached by a male suspect who grabbed her purse and fled around 5:30 p.m., according to police. The woman was knocked to the ground after a slight struggle ensued.

Police said the woman suffered a bruise to her forehead and an injury to her right hand.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s and wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head, according to police.

Anyone with information about the robbery, or suspect, is asked to contact Wilkes-Barre City Police Department at 826-8106.

• Thomas Hooker, 24 of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested Wednesday after officers found a stolen phone in his possession, police said. A complaint reported his/her cell phone was taken without authorization or permission.

• A complaint said someone reported Nov. 2 someone used her check card without authorization or permission to charge $79.64 to the account at a location on East Northampton Street.

• Matthew David Check, 24, of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested in criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

HAZLETON – State police at Hazleton are investigating the break-in and theft of motorized warehouse equipment at Concord Plastics of West Hazleton.

A representative of the plastic recycling center reported two forklifts were stolen from the company’s Valmont Industrial Park location sometime between 10:30 p.m. Friday and 6:15 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Someone damaged one trailer and stole another tractor-trailer to remove the equipment. Police are investigating the incident, but have no suspects.