Deputies Search For Wallet Thieves Who Use Stolen Credit Cards
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Investigators are searching for two women and a man wanted for stealing wallets and then using the stolen credit cards.
Deputies in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties say the trio is sneaking around Whole Foods and Albertson's grocery stores, stealing unsuspecting shoppers' wallets from their open handbags. It's happened at least three times this month, according to investigators.
On June 1, a credit card from a wallet stolen at Whole Foods located at 6853 South York Street was used at the Best Buy at 6707 South Vine Street. Withdrawals were also made from the victim's bank account. The next day a similar crime took place at the Albertson's located at 7450 South University Boulevard. Credit cards from that wallet were used at the Apple Store located at 7301 Santa Fe Drive. Withdrawals were also made from the victim's bank account.
In each incident, Julie Brooks, a spokeswoman for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, says the thieves made "significant" withdrawals and "high-dollar purchases" before the victims realized what had happened.
"It can happen to any of us," Brooks said.
She encourages shoppers to zip open handbags and use child straps to buckle them into their shopping cart.
Brooks says investigators tied the Arapahoe County cases to a third incident in Douglas County, also on June 2, in which surveillance video retrieved from a Whole Foods store a 9366 South Colorado Boulevard, in Highlands Ranch, shows the male suspect and dark-haired female suspect hanging around a shopper's cart. While her back is turned, the man grabs her wallet from the purse and walks away. It happens in a matter of seconds.
Megan Sherer and Madison Berry, shopping together in South Glenn on Tuesday, said they would be more cautious with their handbags following the thefts.
"It's just scary that they are capable of doing that so fast without you knowing right away," Sherer said.
"I'm definitely going to zip up my bags from now on," Berry added.
The first suspect is a white female, 40 to 50 years old with a thin build and blonde hair. The second female suspect is a white female about 40 to 50 years old with long, dark hair.
Additional Information From The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is requesting that anyone with information about the crimes or identity of the suspects to please contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash reward up to $2,000.
Lauren DiSpirito is CBS4's Northern Newsroom reporter. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.
