By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to DeMoulas Market on Somerville Ave. last Saturday afternoon on reports of the theft of a pocketbook belonging to one of the store’s customers.

Upon arrival officers detained Meghan Thomas, of Newburyport, across the street from the store’s location. They were also holding a male companion of Thomas for questioning.

Surveillance video had reportedly been reviewed by store personnel and it was believed that Thomas was identifiable as being the one who took the victim’s pocketbook from the lottery table inside the store.

Thomas reportedly told police that she could get the pocketbook back if they would let her go. After she was advised that this would not happen, she reportedly reached into her coat pocket and produced three credit cards that she said she had taken from the pocketbook.

The officers then requested a viewing of the surveillance video from the store.

According to reports, Thomas was shown walking over to the lottery table where a pocketbook was placed down by the victim. Thomas then reportedly walked away from the lottery table and conversed with her companion. Next, she walked away from her companion and went directly to the lottery table where the pocketbook was, according to reports. While the male companion proceeded to walk out of the store, Thomas reportedly picked up the pocketbook and walked out of the store.

Based on what the officers viewed on the surveillance video and the suspect’s statements, Thomas was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with larceny from a person. She was taken in for booking in the usual manner.