Amherst police apprehend 'Good Samaritan bandit'

Amherst police have made an arrest in connection with the Nov. 11 larceny of an elderly woman's purse from the Olive Garden on Maple Road.

Police have charged Catherine M. Montgomery, 58, of Akron with grand larceny in the fourth degree.

She is accused of approaching a 77-year-old woman in the parking lot of the restaurant and telling the woman that she left her credit card on the table.

Montgomery reportedly assisted the woman, who walks with a cane, to the door of the restaurant and allegedly offered to carry her purse.

According to police reports, the woman handed over the purse, and upon reaching the door, Montgomery allegedly left with the purse, including the driver's license, credit card and checks, in a vehicle.

She is accused of purchasing more than $10,000 worth of merchandise in the victim's name in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Buffalo and Clarence.

Additional felony charges are expected pending completion of the investigation.

The suspect was identified from a tip provided by a citizen, who viewed a clip from a surveillance video shown on the news.

Detective Herb Leising led the investigation.