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Police: Man stole 80-year-old woman's purse while she was visiting husband's grave

LAWRENCE, Mass. — An 80-year-old woman was left shaken up after her purse was stolen while visiting her husband's grave Tuesday morning.

It was just after 10:30 a.m. when the woman was at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Cemetery and she was approached from behind.

Police say 32-year-old Christopher Ansara grabbed her purse, which she had set on the ground, and ran.

“To come here just pay respects to your loved ones, and to have something like that happen to you it's awful,” cemetery visitor Rose Reilly said.

Lawrence police told Boston 25 News the suspect ran to a store in Methuen and called a cab before being arrested.

“Patrol did an excellent job, they located several people and identified the perp, he was placed under arrest within an hour,” Police Chief James Fitzpatrick said.

Police say officers later caught up with Ansara, who confessed to the theft.

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