A late-night traffic stop tied to a felony theft investigation ended without an arrest—but with a clear warning from police that charges are still on the table.
Just after midnight, officers with the Portsmouth Police Department stopped a vehicle on Young Street after developing reasonable suspicion that a felony theft suspect was inside.
Stop Leads to Admission
After the stop, officers removed the female suspect from the vehicle and detained her while waiting for a detective to respond. During the encounter, the woman admitted to taking the money.
She told officers:
- She currently had part of the money
- She was on her way to pick up the rest
- She intended to return it to her mother immediately
Police advised her in no uncertain terms about the consequences of failing to return the money, including the criminal charges she could face if she didn’t follow through.
Released—For Now
Both the female suspect and the driver were released at the scene. Officers documented the admission and noted that additional information will be added to the report if the money is not returned as promised.
Second Chance—or Delayed Charges?
For now, the case hinges on one thing: whether the money actually makes it back.
Police say this was not a free pass—just a moment where cooperation paused the cuffs. If the money isn’t returned, the paperwork is already in motion.
In other words:
👉 Midnight promises don’t cancel daylight consequences.