Staff Report
BRANT NEWS

An 18-year-old Hamilton man is facing robbery charges after following an elderly woman from OLG Casino Brantford before stealing her purse on Friday afternoon.

Brantford police say the 80-year-old woman had her purse stolen as she walked across the parking lot of the Metro grocery store on St. Paul Avenue shortly after 1:30 p.m., just hours after winning a sum of cash at the casino.

Police say the accused used force as the victim tried to hold onto her purse. The woman suffered minor injuries to her shoulder during the robbery.

The suspect took the purse and fled the area in a grey Infiniti vehicle waiting in the area. A witness recorded the vehicle’s licence plate number.

Investigators say the accused and two unknown accomplices observed the woman win a sum of money at the casino a few hours prior to the robbery. The assailants followed the victim to the grocery store.

Brantford and Hamilton police arrested the accused at his Hamilton residence on Saturday at 7 p.m. An 18-year-old Hamilton man is charged with robbery.

Police continue to investigate the identity of the other two individuals involved in the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Michael Sciberras of the major crime unit at 519-756-0113 ext. 2270.