ST. LOUIS • A man who police say stole a purse from a woman riding the MetroLink was working as a sub-contractor for a security firm that the public transit system employs.

Prosecutors charged Murphy Outlaw, 59, of the 1100 block of Upper Cahokia Road in Cahokia this week with felony and misdemeanor stealing after St. Louis police say he was caught on surveillance cameras taking items out of the purse on Aug. 2.

Outlaw was assigned to the Convention Center MetroLink station when the purse was taken, said Patti Beck, spokeswoman for MetroLink.

The victim reported her purse and credit cards had been taken from her at about 9:30 p.m. at 600 Washington Avenue. Detectives said video surveillance footage shows Outlaw putting the purse in a concealed location and that he admitted taking the purse, moving it and obtaining items from it, according to court documents.

His bail was set at $2,500.

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