By George P. Hassett

A criminal couple distracted a store employee to steal a roll of lottery tickets Monday morning, police said.

Police nabbed the female who allegedly kept the cashier busy while a man reached over the counter and grabbed 13 $20 lottery tickets from the combination convenience store and Dunkin Donuts at 850 Broadway.

Rita Smith, 34, of 8 Dartmouth St. was stopped near the Ball Square Bridge and fit the description of the female suspect, police said. Police did not find the man.

Smith allegedly asked repeated questions about items and prices at the store while the man grabbed the lottery tickets. She was arrested and charged with unarmed robbery.