Suspects distracted grocery-shopping victim to swipe her wallet, deputies say

Pinellas County deputies are searching for a couple of quick-moving wallet thieves, who snatched a woman’s wallet while her back was turned.

On June 30, the unidentified male and female suspects were seen in surveillance video at the Winn-Dixie at 10202 Seminole Boulevard. Deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said the female suspect distracted the victim as the male suspect walked behind them, and -- within seconds -- removed the victim’s phone-holder wallet from her purse sitting in the shopping cart.

Hours later, surveillance footage from other stores showed the female suspect using the victim’s credit and debit cards at the Dollar General, Walgreens and Walmart locations along Seminole Boulevard. 

The female suspect is described as black, between the ages of 35 and 45, with short or pulled back dark hair. She was seen wearing a sleeveless black and white print full-length dress. The male suspect is described as black and between the ages of 45 and 55. He was seen wearing a short-sleeved button-down shirt, blue jeans and a light-colored baseball cap.

Detectives said an additional female suspect was seen using the victim’s cards at the Wawa gas station on Missouri Avenue. She was seen arriving in a four-door red Toyota, and is accompanied by a child between the ages of 3 and 5. This suspect is described as a white or light-skinned Hispanic female. She was seen wearing a gray Mickey Mouse t-shirt and blue shorts. 

The amount of illegal purchases made was at least $3,000. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective D. Curtin with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6050 or dcurtin@pcsonet.com. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Pinellas at 1-800-873-8477 or online at www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org