Police: Pickpockets target elderly Publix shoppers

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Police are hoping you can help them identify the thieves preying on elderly shoppers at Plant City Publix stores.

According to Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, three elderly women were targeted at two separate Publix stores between October 28 and November 13.  In each instance, three suspects worked together -- some would distract the victim by striking up a conversation while others would remove the victim's wallet from the cart.

The suspects left Publix together and went directly to the closest CVS store.  Using the victims' stolen credit cards, they bought several gift cards totaling over $1,000.

The suspects are described as two females and one male who fled the stores in a full-size blue Ford passenger van.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to identification and arrests.   Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com, or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application.