Strathmere Man Charged with Robbery in Two Purse Snatchings Sept. 21

COURT HOUSE — Strathmere man arrested Monday, Sept. 22, and charged with robbery for two purse snatchings on Sunday, Sept. 21,
Middle Township Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting a strong arm robbery/purse snatching at the CVS Pharmacy in Court House.
Officers arrived and were met by the victim, a 37-year-old female from Rio Grande. The victim reported a white male approached her from behind and attempted to take her purse.
After a brief struggle the perpetrator took the purse and fled the area in a white Jeep Cherokee. The victim did not sustain any injuries.
While investigating the above case, Middle Township Police Department received a second 9-1-1 call reporting another strong arm robbery/purse snatching at the Superfresh Plaza across the street from the CVS.
Officers arrived and were met by the second victim, a 61-year-old female from Court House.
The victim reports a white male approached her and attempted to take her purse. After a brief struggle, the victim fell to the ground and the perpetrator fled the area on foot. The victim sustained minor injuries.
Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of a Paul E. Blackwell, 19, of Strathmere, by Middle Township Police Detectives in Medford Lakes, earlier Monday, Sept. 22.
Blackwell is charged with two counts of robbery was and lodged in the county jail in lieu of $7,500 bail.
Paul E. Blackwell is a suspect in numerous car burglaries that occurred in the Court House area within the recent weeks.
The Middle Township police are asking anyone who was the victim of a car burglary that didn’t report it to police to call Detective Doug Osmundsen of the Major Crimes Unit at 609-465-8704.
Patrolman Ronald Miller, Patrolman J. Moore, Detective Doug Osmundsen and Investigator Mark Higginbottom investigated the case.
As first reported here on Sunday, Sept. 21, about 30 minutes after the first snatching, State Police were called to the Seaville Acme on Route 9 for another purse snatching. The accused matched the same description of the previous purse snatching.
An eyewitness followed the Jeep for several miles on Stagecoach Road while State Police were en route. The Jeep made several U-turns and traveled up and down the streets that cross Stagecoach Road. A
Ultimately the witness broke off, and State Police were unable to locate the Jeep when they arrived.