David Smith

Transit Police officers received a call to respond to the MBTA’s Maverick Square station for a report of an unarmed robbery on Wednesday.

Upon arrival, an officer was met by the victim, as well as an MBTA employee, who said the 66-year-old woman was seated on an outbound Blue Line train with her purse directly next to her.

As the train pulled into the station, a male, later identified as David Smith, 28, of Winthrop, Massachusetts, forcefully grabbed the victim’s purse, and fled off the train.

The victim began yelling for help.

As Smith was fleeing through the station, an MBTA employee physically prevented him from escaping.

Smith was placed into custody, and will be arraigned for unarmed robbery of an elderly person.