Grand jury gets case of Middletown woman charged in theft of driver’s purse

A 33-year-old Middletown woman charged with robbery after she allegedly stole a purse from a woman who gave her a ride home had her case bound over to a Butler County grand jury, according to Middletown Municipal Court record.

Brittany Gaba was charged with robbery. Judge James Sherron set her bond at $50,000 and bound her case over. She’s in the Butler County Jail.

Middletown police responded Dec. 4 to the 2800 block of Burbank Avenue and found the alleged victim, a 72-year-old woman, sitting on the ground, hysterical, with visible marks and injuries to her face, police said.

She told officers she gave a woman she didn’t know a ride from Meijer to an apartment complex in the 2800 block of Burbank. The woman had a shopping bag from Meijer and trash bags filled with other items, the alleged victim told police.

When they arrived at the apartment complex, the woman later identified as Gaba grabbed the victim’s purse and attempted to flee. During the struggle for the purse, the victim suffered minor injuries, and the suspect eventually ran away, police said.

At least two apartment residents were on scene when police arrived who corroborated the woman’s story.

During the struggle for her purse, the woman lost her car keys and her car was towed to her house in Lebanon.

Police found a Meijer receipt at the scene. They viewed surveillance footage from Meijer and were able to identify the woman.

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