POSTED: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 --- 11:45 a.m.

From the Madison Police Department:

Incident Type
Theft

Incident Date
01/07/2013 - 2:00 PM

Address
7202 Watts Road (Walmart)

Arrested
Justin O. McCarthy, age 35, Madison
Mr. McCarthy was arrested for Theft (Purse Snatching) - 2 counts, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Victim
Female, age 60, Madison

Details
A South District sergeant was driving an unmarked squad car last night, when he spotted a maroon Taurus pulling into a W. Badger Rd. liquor store. The sergeant took down the plate, and compared it with notes he had taken at an earlier patrol briefing. Sure enough, it was the getaway car used by a thief following an afternoon purse snatching at the Watts Rd. Walmart.

A 60-year old Madison woman had left her shopping cart unattended while perusing the frozen foods section. A store security guard spotted the suspect take the victim's wallet from her purse, which was in the cart. He provided police with a description of the suspect's car, as well as its plate number. The security guard identified the thief as the same man who had taken another shopper's wallet last October.

Back at the liquor store, the suspect initially denied wrongdoing, but when confronted with the fact that there was an eyewitness and surveillance videos, he made admissions of guilt.

A Fitchburg officer and his K9 partner Chase responded to the scene and Chase alerted on areas inside the suspect's car where heroin and drug paraphernalia were found. The arrested man admitted he has a daily habit. He is also a suspect in area copper thefts.