Crime & Safety

Bike Riding Purse Snatcher Nabbed in Port Jeff Church

A woman's purse was stolen as she sat on a Main Street bench Saturday morning.

A purse snatcher trying to evade police Saturday morning was cornered in Infant Jesus Church in Port Jefferson after an aviation and K-9 search led to his whereabouts.

According to Suffolk County police, a woman sitting on a bench with her purse next to her on Main Street in Port Jefferson had her purse stolen by a man riding by on a bicycle at about 10:45 a.m.

Police said Christopher Noack, 23, of Centereach, took the woman’s purse and then fled, eventually dumping the purse in some nearby woods. Police and Port Jefferson constables set up a perimeter in search of the thief and eventually cornered him in the rear of the church.

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Officers "tightened the net" and K-9 units helped to chase the suspect down, according to a Port Jefferson constable who did not give his name.

Noack was arrested on a charge of fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony.  Police were able to recover the purse and its contents.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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