A 22-year-old woman was walking along Court Street, near Coe Park, about 3:30 p.m. Monday when she was approached by an unknown man, who asked for a lighter, then hit her and stole her purse, Bangor police Lt. Tim Reid said Tuesday.

The assailant was described as a white male, in his late 20s or early 30s, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and around 180 pounds.

“He had brown facial scruff and he was wearing a black winter down coat and winter hat,” Reid said.

After asking the victim for a lighter, the man grabbed her purse, the detective said. The woman pulled it back, but then “he punched her in the side of the head and took her purse,” Reid said.

She was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center for swelling on the right side of her face and later released.

Because “he used physical force on another with the intent of taking her property, it would be Class A robbery,” Reid said. If convicted of a Class A robbery, the suspect would face up to 30 years in prison. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)

A new camera system at Bell’s IGA in Orono has led to a number of recent arrests for theft, with three occurring within hours Friday, Orono police Sgt. Scott Scripture said Monday.

Scripture said Aaron Young, 28, of Orono was caught trying to steal a bottle of wine and wrestled to the ground by store employees after he took a swing at one of them. Police arrived at about 3:45 p.m. and arrested him on a charge of robbery, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in jail.

About an hour later, according to police, Willie Zachary, 44, of Bangor was caught trying to steal a bottle of tooth pain medicine, Scripture said. Zachary was charged with theft and violation of bail conditions.

Then at around 6:30 p.m., Jenna Barron, 24, of Milford was allegedly caught on video surveillance trying to steal candy. She was charged with theft and possession of a Schedule W drug, which is believed to be oxycodone, Scripture said.

All three suspects were taken to Penobscot County Jail and have since been released, a jail official said. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)