Police nab suspected church thief

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Buffalo Police say they've caught the purse thief who hit four Buffalo churches in the span of just over an hour.

Authorities just wrapped up a press conference a few minutes ago where they talked about the arrest of 36-year-old Sandra Abrams who's been charged with three counts of grand larceny and one count petit larceny.

Now Buffalo Police say she stole wallets and purses from four different churches in Buffalo just over a week ago. Detectives had a photo of the woman from a Buffalo gas station. The car was apparently registered to someone living in southern Erie County.

Authorities received a tip call this afternoon that 36-year-old Abrams was hiding in a trailer on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. Sheriff's deputies found her underneath the trailer and also found several purses as well. The thefts were all reported on November 15th.

Now Buffalo Police Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards says Abrams was looking for drug money.

"It appears that this is, unfortunately, one of those instances where there's probably drug activity in play which she was on a mission just to find money. Cash money is what she needed in order to obtain more drugs," explained Richards.

Abrams is expected to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. on November 25 in Buffalo City Court.