An unarmed robber demanded and, after a struggle, stole a Lyman Street Stop & Shop customer's purse while she loaded her groceries into her vehicle Sunday evening, Westborough Police said Monday.
Police arrested Mason R. Bock, 46, of Salem, in the parking lot at Price Chopper on Route 9 in Shrewsbury.
The getaway car, a 2010 Ford Focus with "a trash bag over its rear license plate," was traced to Price Chopper through the iPhone in the victim's purse by her husband, who had responded to the Stop & Shop, police said in a press release.
The victim, age 34, was not injured in the robbery, which was reported at around 5:41 p.m. at 32 Lyman St., police said.
She told police that she was putting her groceries in her vehicle when a man demanded her purse.
"She refused, and a struggle ensued," police said.
The assailant then ran to the Ford Focus.
"A witness followed the vehicle onto Lyman Street heading south, where he lost sight of the vehicle," police said.
Shrewsbury Police Officer Chad Chesna saw the Ford Focus in the Price Chopper parking lot, "with the suspect still inside the vehicle," Westborough Police said. Chesna took him into custody until Westborough Police arrived.
Westborough Police charged Bock, 46, of 179 Boston St., Salem with unarmed robbery, and assault and battery.
Police found the stolen items -- including "credit cards, personal papers, the iPhone and cash" -- in the Ford Focus, police said.
Bock is being held at the Westborough Police Department until his arraignment in Westborough District Court on Monday.
Sgt. Steven Reale and Patrolman Domenic Annunziata investigated the incident for Westborough Police.
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