Auburn Hills woman charged for snatching purses at grocery stores

By Ben Warren, bwarren@detroitnews.com

An Auburn Hills girl accused of stealing clients’ wallets at two grocery shops inside a 30-minute interval has been charged with two felonies, Oakland County officers mentioned.

Lynsie Marion Leinenger was charged Friday in 52-3 District Courtroom with unarmed theft, which carries a attainable 15-year jail sentence, and theft from an individual, a 10-year felony, based on a press release from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Workplace.

Justice of the Peace Karen Holt set bail at $10,000 for Leinenger and set her subsequent courtroom look for December 23. Leinenger is being held within the Oakland County Jail.

The alleged incidents happened at Kroger and Meijer shops, each in Rochester Hills, round 8:00 PM and eight:30 PM.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the sheriff’s workplace mentioned, officers had been dispatched to the Kroger retailer at 65 S. Livernois after a reported theft.

Police allege Leininger took a 64-year-old Rochester Hills girl’s bag containing a cellphone, pockets, necklace and medicines from the girl’s buying cart earlier than fleeing the shop.

The identical officers then obtained a name a couple of theft in progress on the Meijer retailer at 3610 Market Circle, additionally in Rochester Hills.

On the Meijer, Leinenger allegedly grabbed a bag from a buying cart, however the sufferer, a 71-year-old girl from Rochester Hills, chased her along with her cart and knocked her down.

Officers say the 2 girls struggled over the bag earlier than Leinenger took it from the sufferer. Whereas working to the entrance of the shop, Leinenger fell and injured her knee. She was subsequently arrested.

“It is a unhappy reminder that there are individuals who attempt to prey on others – particularly the aged – throughout the holidays,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard mentioned within the assertion.

“We urge everybody to stay situationally conscious, and we particularly encourage girls to maintain a detailed eye on their wallets and by no means depart them unattended in buying carts. We sit up for this suspect being held totally accountable.”

Based on the Oakland County Sheriff’s Workplace, Leinenger has earlier convictions for residence invasion, uttering and publishing.