Just before 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, state police were dispatched to a report of a theft from a person at the Hannaford supermarket in Rutland. The report indicated that a male subject had stolen a purse from a person inside the supermarket.
While responding, several calls came in about customers and citizens chasing the subject through the parking lot. The suspect was later identified as Anthony D. Courcelle of Rutland, age 25.
Numerous members of the public followed Courcelle and provided detailed descriptions of him.
Courcelle was tracked to a nearby convenience store where he attempted to use a stolen debit card from the purse, although the victim had quickly cancelled the card. Courcelle then fled to his nearby residence, where he was tracked by several citizens including a retired Rutland City police officer.
State police were assisted by the Rutland City Police Dept. and Courcelle was located at his residence. Several witnesses were able to identify him as the person who ran from the theft and video footage from several stores and locations linked him directly to the theft and illegal use of credit card.
Courcelle is due in Rutland Criminal Court on Sept. 1 to answer to the charges of Larceny from a Person, Petit Larceny, False Pretense and Identity theft.
Three of the four charges are considered felonies in the state of Vermont.
The state police would like to thank the numerous members of the public who quickly came to aid during this theft, providing detailed descriptions, tracking the movements of Courcelle and ultimately helping with a quick arrest.
