Topeka police have arrested a man accused of stealing a woman’s purse at the TJ Maxx on SW Wanamaker Road on Friday morning.
Officers responded around 10:24 a.m. after a woman reported her purse had been taken from the shopping cart she was pushing inside the store. According to investigators, the suspect grabbed the purse and ran into the nearby Target, where three shoppers quickly intervened and restrained him until police arrived. The victim’s purse and belongings were safely recovered.
Following an on-scene investigation, officers arrested Rakeem S. Grant, 26, of Topeka, on multiple charges, including:
Aggravated Burglary
Simple Battery
Theft – Purse Snatching
Theft – Shoplifting Under $1,500
Grant was booked into the Shawnee County Jail.
With the holiday shopping season underway, the Topeka Police Department encouraged residents to stay alert and offered several safety reminders: keep purses secured, avoid ATMs, store purchases out of sight, keep keys ready when walking to your car, and lock doors immediately upon entering your vehicle.
