Three Arrested for Wallet Theft at Cracker Barrel

Sturbridge, MA – Three men from out of state were arrested Thursday afternoon after they allegedly stole a wallet from a Cracker Barrel patron. The men were caught when a card was used at Walmart a short time later bringing officers to the area.

At approximately 12:53 p.m. on Thursday, December 28th, 2023, the Sturbridge Police Department was alerted via 911 that a female party’s wallet had just been stolen from her purse while eating at Cracker Barrel, 215 Charlton Rd.

Sturbridge Police Officers responded to the scene and utilized on-premises video surveillance to obtain physical descriptions of the suspects. The descriptions were broadcast to other officers over police radio frequencies.

Moments later, the female party received an automated phone alert that her card was used at Walmart, 100 Charlton Rd. An Officer responding to Walmart spotted a vehicle operated by two individuals matching the suspects’ descriptions leaving the Hobbs Brook Plaza, which houses Walmart. As the officer initiated a traffic stop, he noted that the license plate was covered by wet paper towels obscuring the license plate numbers.

Following a roadside investigation, three men were placed into custody. The men placed in custody included a 23-year-old Virginia man, a 31-year-old New York man, and a 47-year-old New York man. While searching the vehicle, officers recovered the stolen wallet and multiple gift cards. All three men will be charged with the following offenses:

• Larceny
• Receiving Stolen Property (gift cards)
• Credit Card Misuse
• Conspiracy
• The 23-year-old Virginia man will also be charged with Carrying a Dangerous Weapon (Double-Edged Knife), and Concealment of Identity of a Motor Vehicle.