O'Fallon Man Charged with Stealing Purse in Walmart Parking Lot

St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's office has charged an O'Fallon man with stealing a purse out of a woman's cart in the parking lot of the Walmart. 

Christopher R. Melton, 23, whose last address was the first block of Wales Court in O'Fallon, drove up to a 57-year-old woman who was loading her bags into her car on June 19, according to a probable cause statement. 

Melton's window was rolled down as he pulled up near the cart, then without stopping, he grabbed the woman's purse out of the top part of the cart. 
The woman had turned around just before he took the purse and was able to grab her purse from him, but he sped off, knocking the woman to the ground, according to the probable cause statement. 

The woman was treated for a bruised hip and abrasions on her elbow. 
Melton confessed during an interview and admitted to taking part in another purse snatching in St. Charles city on June 18. He also confessed to several other burglaries and said he steals to finance his heroin habit.