Butler Memorial Hospital

BUTLER TWP — A Westmoreland County woman is accused of stealing an unsuspecting elderly patient’s purse and medication at Butler Memorial Hospital in June.

Butler Township police on Tuesday charged Terri L. Crawford, 45, of New Kensington, who is no stranger to law enforcement. Her rap sheet lists more than 40 felony convictions.

Video surveillance at the hospital captured footage of Crawford allegedly committing her latest crime, in the emergency room waiting area, according to court documents.

The victim is seen on the video about 9 p.m. June 12 lying across two chairs in the waiting room and setting her purse on the floor. Crawford later sits down next to the woman and talks to her, police said.

The defendant eventually exchanges seats and places her own purse on top of the victim’s purse on the floor. When she subsequently gets up to leave, police said, Crawford takes both purses.

Footage shows the suspect outside in the hospital parking lot before she returns to the emergency room entrance and hands over the victim’s purse to a security officer, telling him she found the woman’s purse outside.

The victim reported her purse was missing two prescription bottles of the antipsychotic medication Seroquel and the antianxiety medication Klonopin, and $20 in cash.

Crawford is charged with three counts each of theft, and receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.