St. Pete Trio Charged With Stealing 21 Purses

A St. Petersburg trio is facing grand theft charges after the three were seen walking out of a Macy's carrying 21 purses that had not been bought.

The alleged theft occurred Saturday at the store.

says that the three grabbed $4,442 worth of handbags and fled the store with the store's security in pursuit.

As deputies responded to the scene, others were searching for the group’s black Chevy Impala sedan. Deputies pulled over the Impala, which had a plastic baggie over the license plate, at Bee Ridge Road and Groveland Avenue and took all three into custody, according to the probable cause affidavit. The merchandise was also recovered, according to the sheriff's office.

The suspects are identified as:

• Jasmine Hines, 21, of 701 Hillside Drive South, St. Petersburg

• Johneica Roberson, 23, of 1261 23rd St. South, St. Petersburg; and

• Samuel Williams, 48, of 934 Union St., St. Petersburg.

The three St. Pete residents were charged with one count each of Grand Theft and Resisting Detention in Retail Theft, according to the sheriff's office. Williams faces an additional charge for driving with a suspended license.