Purses Stolen from Cars Parked at Russell School, Police Say

Cars parked in the Russell Elementary School parking lot were targeted recently by thieves, according to Marple Township Police. 

A woman parked in front of the school at about 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 and when she returned at about 7:30 p.m., she saw that her driver's side window was shattered and her purse was missing from inside, according to police. 

The purse contained a wallet with her credit and debit cards, checkbook, gift cards and about $20 in cash and a $30 pair of earring she had just purchased, along with other personal items, according to police.

A second woman also reported to police that her purse had been stolen from her GMC Acadia while it was parked in the lot around the same time, according to police.

The second woman believed she had left her vehicle unlocked and she realized the bag was missing after she drove home, according to police.

The purse was a black Tory Birch bag, worth $300, which contained her credit cards and about $44, according to police. 

The thefts are thought to have occurred between 7 and 7:10 p.m., while numerous vehicles and people were in the area for school activities.

Surveillance video at the front of the school would be sent to police and an investigation determined that Radnor Township had a similar incident off Route 320 in the Villanova area at about 8:40 p.m. on Nov. 13, according to police.