Hyannis man with Cape Cod neck tattoo accused of stealing purse...

HYANNIS – This past Saturday, December 29th, at about 4:55 p.m., Barnstable Police Patrolman Spencer Jackson was dispatched to the lobby of BPD Headquarters to speak with woman who had walked in with a complaint.

Officer Jackson met a West Hyannisport woman who explained that on Christmas Day at about 11:00 p.m., she was at the Quarter Deck, sitting at the bar, when her purse was stolen by a stranger she had been conversing with throughout the evening, according to a police report.

The victim explained that over the past few days she had been searching for clues and was able to successfully contact the Quarter Deck and review their surveillance video footage.

The video was quite telling. It reportedly shows the male she had been speaking with at the bar lean over and take her purse when she wasn’t looking.

The victim was able to obtain video still shots of the male’s face and after showing the photos around she was able to get the suspect’s name.

The victim described her stolen purse as being small, black, and shiny with a zipper. Inside the purse she had a bank envelope with two crisp $100 bills and five $20 bills. The purse also reportedly contained a 3 diamond drop style gold necklace, a marijuana card, and other personal items. The necklace was approximately $1500 in value, and the victim expressed that it had a great deal of sentimental value to her.

The victim reportedly tried reaching the suspect on Facebook to get her stuff back, but he denied taking her purse.

Officer Jackson reportedly viewed the surveillance footage, which showed the victim and suspect sitting next to each other at the bar. The footage also allegedly shows the suspect looking around and then reaching in front of victim without her noticing, taking her purse and then suddenly doing a disappearing act out the rear exit.

Patrolman Jackson dug deeper and learned the prime suspect had been arrested in 2017 by Barnstable Patrolman Thomas Edwards for a Larceny Over $250.

Officers Jackson and Edwards met up to discuss the case. Without any prompting, Officer Edwards was able to immediately identify the suspect as the same individual he had previously arrested for stealing a guitar and then pawning it at a shop in Hyannis.

Officers Jackson and Edwards encountered the suspect at his North Street apartment, where upon seeing officers, he reportedly asked, “Is this about the purse?”

Patrolman Jackson told the suspect it was indeed, and proceeded to show him the surveillance footage.

The suspect reportedly went on to explain he is an unemployed drug addict that uses heroin and the purse contained a few hundred dollars which he had already spent on drugs.

Officer Jackson reportedly explained the importance of the necklace to the victim and the suspect initially told officers, “If you give me until tomorrow morning I will try to get the necklace back.” But as Patrolman Jackson pressed the suspect further he changed his tune, reportedly denying any knowledge whatsoever and stating the necklace was not in the purse when he stole it.

Thomas P. Vermette, age 31, of Hyannis, was arrested and charged with two felonies, Larceny Over $1200, and Larceny From a Person.

Vermette was bailed out after $250 cash was posted by a woman with the same last name and residing at the same address. (It’s uncertain whether the woman who got him out was his wife or not… but his butt would still be in the pokey if not for her forking over bail.)

Vermette is scheduled for a Pretrial Hearing on 1/17/19.