Mass. Drug Case Leads to Charges Against East Windsor Woman in Local Theft

The theft of a pocketbook at a local fitness center in November has an East Windsor woman in trouble with the law after police took her into custody on multiple charges Tuesday afternoon.

Southington detectives traveled to Enfield Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon to serve the warrant on Stephanie Maura, of 263 Rye St. in East Windsor, in connection with the Nov. 27 theft outside the Cardio Express fitness center on Queen Street.

Maura, 25, was booked on charges of third-degree larceny, illegal use of a credit card, illegal furnishing of goods on a stolen credit card, credit card theft, receipt of money or goods from a stolen credit card and illegal distribution of prescription drugs and released after posting a $25,000 bond.

“There is a list of charges, but they come from what was inside the pocketbook that was stolen,” said Sgt. Lowell DePalma. “There was a lot of items of value that were taken in the theft.”

Police said on Nov. 27, 2011, Maura allegedly stole a key from a member that had been left in the member’s locker. She proceeded to use the key to take the pocketbook from the member’s car, which was locked with the pocketbook inside when she went to the gym.

It is unknown whether the victim knew Maura on a personal level or how she may have been targeted, police said.

Maura proceeded to use several credit cards, purchasing a $100 gift card at the and $300 in items from the , both on Queen Street in Southington. She also attempted to use the card to purchase an additional 4250 in goods from the CVS in Plainville, but the card had already been reported stolen and her purchase was declined, a police report said.

Police obtained video surveillance footage after the card was rejected and soon after learned that police in East Longmeadow, Mass., were investigating Maura in connection with a prescription medication bottle found in their town. After receiving a picture of Maura, which matched the surveillance footage, detectives were able to obtain a warrant for her arrest.

Maura has been in trouble with the law several times in recent months, according to court records. She is facing burglary, larceny and other charges in similar cases out of Enfield on Nov. 4, Nov. 6 and Nov. 9, according to the court records.

Court officials said she is due in Bristol Superior Court for arraignment on Jan. 30.