Delaware

Police Nab Suspect in Rehoboth Beach Purse-Snatchings

A suspected serial robber accused of pulling off at least two purse-snatchings in a popular Delaware vacation spot has been nabbed, and police are crediting the public's tips with helping get the alleged thief off the street.

Delaware State Police on Saturday morning said they arrested a Lewes man, 28-year-old Anthony Lynch, on Friday, and have connected him to at least two robberies in the Rehoboth Beach area.

In one of the incidents, which occurred about 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, police said a 22-year-old woman was sitting outside the Nautica outlet at the Midway Outlets just north of Rehoboth Beach when a man walked up to her and asked to use her lighter, but then snatched her purse and ran away. Her purse was later found inside a Superfresh store with some of its contents still in it, but cash missing. The woman suffered slight injuries in the purse-snatching, but didn't require medical attention, police said.

Lynch, who was arrested without incident at a residence on Wil King Road in Lewes, is charged with two counts of second-degree robbery. He is being held at the Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $8,000 secured bail, police said.

Delaware State Police said they received numerous tips through crimestoppers after releasing information about the earlier purse-snatchings, along with descriptions of the suspect, which helped them close the case.

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