Felon accused of taking purse, drugs at BMH
BUTLER TWP — A Westmoreland County woman free on bail while awaiting trial for robbery 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.
Investigators said they also spoke to a witness, who reported seeing the defendant take the purse
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.
The defendant, according to court records, has an extensive criminal record in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties that includes 43 felony convictions, mostly for unlawful use of a computer and shoplifting.
She is awaiting trial for a Feb. 28 robbery in New Kensington. Following her arrest in that case, she was placed in the Westmoreland County Prison but released on nonmonetary bail May 30 on the condition she seek unspecified rehab treatment.
Court records disclosed that she was to report “on her own” for inpatient treatment at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Her bail was subsequently revoked and she was returned July 31 to the Westmoreland prison.
