Now, investigators are looking for the thieving trio before they have a chance to make their plot pay off.
They've hit at least three shops in Media, Pa. so far.
Sorella Clothing Boutique is just one shops hit on East State Street last week.
"They do have very suspicious behavior when they come in. Very distracting, and we can pick that up when they come in," said owner Charlene Mulholland.
Their tactic of trying to distract employees while someone else rummages through their purses didn't work here.
But, two doors down at Little People's Consignment Shop, police say the lone clerk went to help one of the suspects in the back of the store. That's when five of her credit cards were stolen from her purse behind the counter.
Police say the women then took the stolen cards to CVS on East Baltimore Pike, where they attempted to purchase gifts cards but were denied.
"This crime occurs everywhere and what people don't understand is that you have to protect your belongings and don't assume that, just because you're in a nice little town that things like this don't happen," said Sgt. Matthew Egan of Media Police.
While police continue the search for suspects, they're warning women to guard their purses.
