Suspect in Purse-Nabbing Arrested

announced the arrest of a North Providence woman who had been sought in the Jan. 28 theft of a purse from a shopper at the on Commerce way.

Kayla Argenti, 22, faces misdemeanor charges of larceny under $500 and receiving stolen goods after police identified her from surveillance footage recorded by a camera at the supermarket.

According to the Rhode Island State Police Most Wanted website, an elderly woman's purse had been resting in the seat of her shopping carriage when a younger woman — whom police now identify as Argenti — took the packetbook and ran out of the store.

Surveillance cameras also provided footage of Argenti's car in the parking lot of the supermarket.

Argenti has eight prior arrests for a variety of charges, Edwards reported.

According to online court records, was serving probation and suspended sentences following arrests in October and December, 2011, for a misdemeanor larceny charge brought by North Providence Police and receiving stolen goods brought by Warwick Police.

Johnston Ptlm. Michael Edwards reported that he went to the Smithfield Police Department to take custody of Argenti on Apr. 2 after officers there arrested Argenti on an outstanding court warrant.

At an arraignment held that day in Johnston, Argenti was unable to pay the $10,000 surety bail, and was remanded to the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston until a scheduled Apr. 11 hearing in Third District Court, Warwick.