Rome Woman in Custody, Charged in Robbery

UPDATE:    02/05/2022 1405   A Rome woman has been taken in custody and charged in the alleged robbery of an elderly woman in the parking lot of Bill's Variety Store last month.

Police say 32-year-old Yvonne J. Carpenter-Joslyn was arrested on Thursday, February 3, 2022 after what police describe as "a short foot pursuit."

Yvonne Carpenter-Joslyn Photo Credit: Rome Police Department
Yvonne J. Carpenter-Joslyn Photo Credit: Rome Police Department
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Carpenter-Joslyn was held pending arraignment in Rome City Court.

Original Story:

Hero Owner of Bill's Variety Store in Rome and Bystander Recover 92-Year-Old's Purse After Robbery

He does not want his name mentioned in the post, but a man who celebrated the 6-0 last year deserves a big high five from at least one grateful customer.  By the way, she is not one to be messed around with either.  Nor, for that matter, is a bystander who definitely did not just stand by without acting.

Officers with the Rome Police Department responded to Bill's Variety Store on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at approximately 10:19am for a report of a robbery.  The store is located at 504 West Thomas Street.

According to a written release a 92-year-old woman entered the parking lot of Bill's Variety when a suspect who appears to be a female left the store and approached the woman's car.  Police allege that the female "suspect then demanded cash and the victim’s purse. The victim did not comply and a physical altercation ensued. The suspect eventually overpowered the victim, forcibly taking her purse then fleeing on a bicycle."  The age of the female suspect is not known but it is believed that she was perhaps decades younger than the nonagenarian who was not letting her handbag go without a fight.

Kristine Bellino, WIBX
Photo Credit:  Kristine Bellino, WIBX / TSM
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The owner of the store and a witness saw what was happening and chased the suspect in their respective cars prior to police arriving.  When they caught up with the female suspect they demanded that she return the purse.  While it is not usually recommended that everyday citizens chase down crime suspects, the suspect eventually did release  the purse and it was subsequently returned to the owner.  The suspect, having returned the purse, fled.

Police say their investigation is still open.  There is surveillance video of the incident but police have not yet made that available to the public.

This is the second time since November that a robbery-related incident has happened at Bill's Variety.  A suspect in that case was caught earlier this month.

Police are asking that anyone with information call the Rome Police Department's TIP line at: (315) 339.7744 or contact Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers at: (866) 730.8477 or online at: www.p3tips.com.  All tips to Crime Stoppers are confidential.

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