Police are searching for a woman and man suspected of stealing a woman’s purse while she shopped in a grocery store and of later using her credit cards to charge $2600 in purchases at multiple local retails stores, authorities said.
The victim, 64, was shopping at Ralphs in the Manhattan Village Mall on Feb. 28 when she noticed a suspicious-looking couple, according to police.
“One might have distracted her, while the other one grabbed the purse,” said MBPD Detective William Peterson.
The victim’s credit cards were later used at three separate Target stores. In some instances, the female went in to make purchases by herself and later handed off items to the man, who waited outside, Peterson said. Other times, they came in together.
“In one store, once they made their purchase, they walked out together, she handed off the merchandise to him and then she made a U-turn and went back in for more,” Peterson said.
The couple purchased gift cards at the three Target stores, charging $1,548 at the Manhattan Beach location – in two separate transactions – and $530 at the Gardena location. An attempt to charge $1,125 at a third location was declined after the victim had called to cancel her cards.
“The woman kept pulling out card after card, saying ‘That’s funny, I don’t know why they’re not working,’” Peterson said.
The male suspect is described by police as 5 ft. 8 in. to 5 ft. 10 in. in height, bald, late 20s to early 30s with a medium build.
The female suspect is described by police as in her mid-30s with a medium to heavy build and shoulder-length brown hair.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective Peterson at 310-802-5132.
