Bibb deputies nab alleged purse thief

A 54-year-old woman was walking from a parking lot at the Shoppes at River Crossing about 2:30 p.m. when her purse was allegedly snatched by a man authorities arrested in less than an hour.

The man drove away toward Monroe County in a brown Ford Focus with the woman's purse, which contained her cell phone, according to a news release from the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies tracked the woman's phone and spotted the suspect's car on Montpelier Avenue at Pansy Avenue, according to the release. The man tried to flee upon seeing deputies, but 50-year-old Fitzgerald Wilder was arrested at Montpelier and Bailey Avenues, according to the release.

Wilder is charged with robbery by snatching, reckless driving, driving while unlicensed and fleeing and eluding police, the release said.

The woman was not injured.

This incident is currently under investigation. Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to call the Bibb County Sheriff's Office at 751-7500 or call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 877-68-CRIME.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter@Lauraecor.

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Bibb deputies nab alleged purse thief ."