BY MATT HERSH

Salem police have arrested a Haverhill, Mass., woman for stealing a purse and using the owner’s credit card to buy hundreds of dollars worth of items at The Mall at Rockingham Park.

Police said that Gina Tommachio, 27, stole a purse from a customer at Rite Aid on 142 Main St. around 2:35 p.m.

A caller reported that the purse had been stolen from her car. Shortly afterward, another caller told police they had seen a woman throw a purse into a dumpster.

The witness provided a description of the thief’s car, which was found unoccupied at the mall by officer Theresa Padvaiskas.

Once the car was located, police received a call from the victim’s credit card company saying the card had been used at the mall.

Police Capt. Shawn Patten said Tommachio was found browsing in a store at the mall.

"Our detectives in plainclothes arrested her after a lengthy shopping spree,” he said.

Tommachio is facing felony charges for receiving stolen property, shoplifting, issuing bad checks and credit card fraud.  She is being held on $10,000 bail.  Patten said Tommachio has a police record.

Police are investigating other purse and wallet thefts from parked cars and local retail stores.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call Salem police at 893-1911.