Duo nabs elderly woman’s purse during Communion, spends $1K

GREEN, Ohio – Authorities say a surveillance camera recorded two people stealing the purse of an elderly woman in line for Communion at an Ohio church on a day Roman Catholics are required to attend Mass.

The Summit County sheriff’s office says the 79-year-old woman’s purse was stolen Dec. 8 from the pew where she was sitting at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Green. Dec. 8 was a holy day of obligation to mark the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Authorities say a surveillance camera shows a man putting the purse inside his bulky coat before walking out with a woman. Authorities say the pair used the woman’s credit card to purchase more than $1,000 in merchandise from a grocery store and a discount store. The purse contained a small amount of cash.