A woman who let a handyman into her house to use the bathroom told police he stole money from her purse while she was distracted.
On March 16 at 3:06 p.m. Hopewell Township Officer Robert Voorhees was detailed to a residence on Search Avenue on a theft report. The woman told him that earlier in the day a man she identified as Richard J. Eastmead, 50, of Rossa Avenue, Lawrenceville, knocked on her door and asked if she had any handyman work to do around the house. She had previously employed him in 2015 for similar work.
She told him she did not, and he then asked to use her bathroom. The woman said she was distracted while caring for her young children, but knew she had money in her purse near the bathroom. As soon as Mr. Eastmead left the residence, she noticed her purse had been moved and $40 was missing from it.
The officer located Mr. Eastmead a short time later on Old Mill Road and placed him under arrest for theft. The money was recovered and given back to the woman.
Mr. Eastmead was taken to police headquarters, and later lodged in the Mercer County Correctional Center.
