New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“NEW BEDFORD – Police officers have arrested a wanted man for purse-snatching.
On December 18th, at around 3 PM, an 82-year-old woman was in the Market Basket parking lot. As she was loading groceries into her vehicle, she was approached by a man who grabbed her pocketbook. The woman struggled but was nonetheless overpowered by the suspect who quickly fled on foot.
Detective Roberto Dacunha was assigned the case. Through his investigation, he discovered that the suspect had used one of the victim’s stolen credit cards to attempt several transactions at north-end businesses. With retrieved surveillance footage, officers were able to identify the suspect as ISAIAS FERREIRA DACOSTA, 31. Det. Dacunha applied for an arrest warrant and advised all units to be on the lookout. On December 23rd, DACOSTA was located by Detectives Nathaniel Almeida and Jonathan Miranda in the area of Holly St. and Ashley Blvd. He was subsequently placed under arrest.
DACOSTA is charged with unarmed robbery of a victim over 60 years old, and five counts of attempting to use the victim’s credit card. He also had three other warrants for his arrest.
“Officers try their best to solve all robberies, however, when the perpetrator is someone who targets the elderly, it strikes a particular chord with everyone involved. I’m grateful for the effort of all the officers involved, from the patrol officers who took the initial report and comforted the victim, to the major crime detectives who tracked the surveillance video, and finally, the narcotics detectives who could locate him and place him under arrest. Great work”-Chief Paul Oliveira.
If you have any information you would like to share with the police, you can do so anonymously by visiting our website, newbedfordpd.com, or by calling 508-99-CRIME.”-City of New Bedford Police Department.
