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NEWS BRIEFS
3rd man arrested in purse snatchings
From left, Fredrick Young, John Adkins and Paul Michael Moore Jr. have been charged with felony crimes in relation to a series of purse snatchings in the area.
HUNTINGTON — Three people are now in custody, all charged with felony crimes in relation to a series of purse snatchings in the area.
Those arrested are Fredrick Hansford Young, 23; John Wayne Adkins, 31; and Paul Michael Moore Jr., 41. All are from Huntington.
Young and Adkins were arrested early Tuesday morning following midnight purse snatching at Wal-Mart along U.S. 60 near Huntington, said West Virginia State Trooper S.N. Swoope and Cabell County Sheriff Detective Todd Wentz.
Investigators already possessed information about the suspects and vehicle registration from the car used in Tuesday’s incident. Swoope used that information, traveled to vehicle’s residence and waited for the suspects to arrive.
Everything worked as planned. The men arrived, they were arrested and police recovered several stolen items from the house. Three vehicles were seized.
Moore was arrested later Tuesday morning at his residence along Roby Road, Wentz said.
Huntington Police Detective Chris Sperry also assisted in the investigation. Sperry, Wentz and Swoope believe the suspects could be linked to as many as 10 purse snatchings in the county. They also are aware of a similar report in Lawrence County, Ohio.
The investigators believe the assailants targeted female victims they judged to be easy targets. Their ages ranged from early 20s to the elderly. The assailants would wait for victims to become preoccupied with something, such as children or groceries. The snatcher would rush up, take the purse and run to the get-away vehicle.
Swoope and Wentz do not believe the crimes were drug related. Instead, both investigators believe the snatchings were committed by unemployed men in need of cash for the holiday season.
Young and Adkins both were incarcerated at the Western Regional Jail at 7:38 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. respectively.
Young was charged with felony fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery and two counts of felony accessory before the fact, according to Swoope and jail records.
Adkins was charged with two counts of robbery, grand larceny, and five counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, according to Swoope and jail records.
Moore still was being processed at 11:05 a.m. He was charged with second-degree robbery. More charges are expected, Wentz said.
Both men were detained without bond.
