NY Woman Snatched Wallet, Went On Spending Spree: Westport PD

WESTPORT, CT — A 43-year-old Queens, NY woman, who police said stole a wallet in Westport in 2017 and went on a spending spree, was arrested on a warrant in Pennsylvania this week and was extradited back to Connecticut, according to Westport police.

Andrea Soledad Lopez-Poblete was charged by Westport police on Wednesday with first-degree identity theft, fifth-degree larceny, illegal use of a credit card and credit card theft.

The incident occurred at the Panera Bread restaurant on the Post Road East in September 2017.

"The victim reported that shortly after leaving the restaurant she realized that her wallet was missing," stated Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso. "Upon returning to the business to inquire about it, the wallet was determined to have been located and subsequently turned into management. However, upon inspection by the victim, it was found to be missing cash and several credit cards. Upon attempting to cancel these credit cards, the victim learned that the cards had already been fraudulently used to make several purchases of merchandise in the area."

How much was charged on the credit cards was not disclosed, but fifth-degree larceny is typically worth between $500 and $1,000.

"Surveillance video was obtained from both the Panera store as well as from the locations at which the credit cards were used to make these unauthorized purchases. Through investigation as well as through information sharing by members of the detective bureau with other law enforcement agencies using still photographs of the suspect taken from video surveillance, she was positively identified as Andrea Soledad Lopez-Poblete. An arrest warrant was obtained for Lopez-Poblete and was marked for extradition."

Lopez-Poblete was ultimately taken into custody by law enforcement in Pennsylvania and extradited back to Westport. The circumstances surrounding her apprehension in Pennsylvania were not disclosed.

She was held in lieu of a court set bond of $100,000 and was arraigned in Norwalk Superior Court on Thursday.