Westborough Woman Accused of Breaking Into Northborough Home, Stealing From Purse

A Westborough woman is charged with entering a Northborough home in the afternoon, taking money from a purse on the table, and hiding it in her underpants, according to police.

Linda F. VanDam, 23, 52 South St., Westborough, was arrested July 3 by Northborough police and charged with breaking and entering in the daytime, larceny under $250 and interfering with a police investigation.

On Tuesday, July 3, shortly after 1 p.m., Officer Eric Michel and Sgt. Bruce responded to a home on South Street for a larceny that allegedly just occurred.

According to the homeowner, who knew VanDam by name, VanDam had walked into her home and taken approximately $40 from her purse, which sat on the kitchen table.

The caller's husband returned home and drove to Honey Farms, where he located VanDam and drove her back to the residence, where police arrived.

VanDam told officers she had been at the home on July 1 visiting, and had "made arrangements to come back on Tuesday to go shopping ... and when she left the residence on Sunday she accidentally forgot her cell phone."

VanDam said a friend had dropped her off at the residence, and when no one answered the door, she left and asked construction workers on the street if she could use their cell phone. She maintained she didn't take any money.

The caller's neighbor told police she saw VanDam go in the house.

A female officer from the Shrewsbury Police Department was called to perform a search, during which she found money in VanDam's underpants. 

According to police, VanDam claimed the money was hers, and she was "taking it back."

It was determined that $72 was taken from the wallet.

Vandam was released on $1,040 bail. Her pretrial hearing is July 6 at Westborough District Court.