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Purse thief sentenced to five-day jail term

One of two South Surrey men charged in connection with incident sentenced on March 5

One of two South Surrey men charged in connection with the theft of a purse last fall was sentenced March 5 to five days in jail for the crime.

Bradley Aaron Richards was arrested Nov. 13, after White Rock police received a report of a man breaking the window of a late-model Ford Explorer parked in the 1400-block of Anderson Street. A woman reported seeing the man take her purse from the vehicle and flee the area with a second man.

Officers responding located two men in a vehicle matching the description provided. They found the victim’s purse in the same vehicle.

Initially charged with possession of stolen property, possession of break-in instruments, mischief and theft, Richards pleaded guilty to theft $5,000 or under. The remaining charges were stayed.

In addition to five days in jail, Richards was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $50 victim surcharge.

His co-accused, Chad Keith Gunness, pleaded guilty on Nov. 26 to breach of probation in connection with the incident, and was sentenced to one day in jail.

Gunness is due back in court on Sept. 20 in connection with a Dec. 7 incident in White Rock that resulted in charges of assault, theft and uttering threats.