Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Burglary/Pawn Unit

What:
Detectives assigned to the Burglary/Pawn Unit continue to see the public’s assistance in locating three credit card fraud/petit theft suspects.

When:
Detectives have been investigating various thefts since February of 2014. Since the initial theft in February there have been multiple thefts, with the most recent being reported on December 15, 2014.

Where:
The thefts have occurred at various Aldi Grocery Stores and Winn-Dixie stores throughout the Seminole and Clearwater areas. The suspects then use the victim’s credit cards at local Target and Walmart stores.

Why/How:
Pinellas County detectives continue to seek the public’s assistance in locating three credit card fraud/petit theft suspects.

According to detectives the initial thefts occurred in February 2014 and there have been multiple thefts and multiple victims since, with the most recent being reported on December 15, 2014. The suspects enter grocery stores and look for opportune times to remove wallets from open purses left unattended on the upper carrier of grocery carts or being carried by unsuspecting shoppers that are momentarily pre-occupied, usually looking in the produce or freezer coolers. The suspects appear to target elderly females who are shopping alone.

After the suspects enter the store, one suspect will act as a lookout while another suspect removes the wallets from the shoppers. The suspects then use the victim’s credit cards to make purchases at various Target and Walmart stores throughout Pinellas County.

Suspect # 1 is described as a black female, medium build, with short black hair. She was last seen wearing pink nursing scrub pants and a blue print design nursing scrub shirt.

Suspect #2 is described as a black female, heavy set, with long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing red nursing scrub pants and a white nursing scrub shirt with an unknown print. She can also be seen in surveillance video wearing a dark long dress. She has been observed walking with a limp.

Suspect #3 is described as a black female, heavy set and her hair pulled back into a pony tail. She was last seen wearing a short sleeve plaid striped button down shirt.

The suspects have been seen driving in a newer model silver Chrysler mini-van or SUV.  

The investigation continues.

Anyone with information on these thefts is asked to contact Detective Creaser of the Burglary/Pawn Unit at (727) 582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.

Surveillance video can be viewed on our YouTube page here: http://youtu.be/lwwrtMRzWP4

Prior surveillance video can be viewed on our YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv_92174CDQ