Portales police seek school purse thief

Steiner Elementary School was locked down Wednesday for 20 minutes after a man walked into the secretary’s office and stole her purse, according to Portales police.

Police Capt. Lonnie Berry said around 9:30 a.m., a man entered the school when the secretary wasn’t in her office.

“The guy walked around and stole the secretary’s purse out from under her desk,” Berry said. “He walked in and noticed that she was gone. The secretary returned and found him. She and another employee of the school chased the purse snatcher out.”

Berry said the school was locked down as a security precaution to make sure the man wasn’t still in the school.

“We did identify the guy so the officers are working on the warrant for him,” Berry said.