Watertown Police Catch Suspect in Purse Snatching from IHOP

A Quincy man faces multiple charges after leading Watertown Police on a chase through an Eastside neighborhood.

On Feb. 6 at 3:50 a.m., Watertown Police received an alert from Boston Police and State Police about two suspects who had allegedly stolen a purse from the IHOP on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. An officer on patrol spotted a car matching the description - a blue Honda with a white male wearing a red shirt driving and female passenger.

"The officer observed a blue Honda exit 7-Eleven on Mt. Auburn Street (in Coolidge Square) with a male and female inside," Lawn said. "The male looked in the direction of the officer with a surprised look."

The man left the 7-Eleven and then ran a red light at Mt. Auburn Street and Kimball Road, Lawn said. The driver did not stop for police, and went up Lloyd Road and stopped on Clayton Street. 

"The male exited and started running through yards," Lawn said. "Officers caught him and placed him under arrest. While the officers were chased the male, the woman took off in the car."

The purse was not recovered, Lawn said.

Laurens S. Verhoef, 23, of 12 Taft St. in Quincy, was arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license, failing to stop for police and failing to stop, Lawn said.