Police arrest woman with 50 stolen purses

Police arrested a 29-year-old Antioch woman on theft charges Friday night after finding more than 50 purses in her car that are believed to have been stolen from patrons of Vice Ultra Lounge and other downtown night spots.

Sheila Nicole Whitson was booked at County Jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tolls and burglary, police said. 

About 11 p.m., police found Whitson in the parking lot of Vice Ultra Lounge on Arroyo Way. Officers had been conducting a surveillance of the area after cars were broken into that belonged to patrons of Vice Ultra Lounge and other downtown clubs.

In addition to the 50 purses and other property that were believed to be stolen, police say they found in the car and on Whitson tools commonly used in burglaries.

After arresting Whitson, who is on probation for prior thefts, officers began trying to track down the owners of the purses and other property.