Purse stealing theft doesn’t get far from scene of crime

A purse-stealing crook didn’t get far from the scene of a crime in the Village late Tuesday afternoon. Christopher Renteria, 37, of West Covina, grabbed the purse from a customer dining at 42nd Street Bagel, 225 Yale Ave., and got into the passenger seat of a maroon Mitsubishi Galant. A witness was able to provide police with a description and license plate number. Not far down the road a Claremont police officer was monitoring a traffic stop at Cambridge and Harrison when the Galant sped through the stop at 35 miles per hour, according to Lt. Vander Veen. The officer pulled over the vehicle right at the moment dispatch informed officers of the theft and attempted getaway. Mr. Renteria was arrested for theft with prior convictions and the driver, Laura Wohlhueter, 48, also of West Covina, was arrested for conspiracy to commit a theft. The purse was recovered and returned to its rightful owner.