Wallet thieves caught on video targeting elderly customers in Abington Township

ABINGTON TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Police are looking for three suspects who allegedly stole two victims' purses from a Whole Foods store in Abington Township, Pa.

The thefts happened at the store at 1575 The Fairway in the Rydal section of the township.

Police say the suspects then tried to buy gift cards and Apple watches, using stolen credit cards from the Target store on Old York Road.

Both incidents happened on August 9. In the first case, which happened around 10 a.m., a man was caught on surveillance video entering the Whole Foods Market and following an elderly woman who was shopping in the store for a few minutes.

When the woman looked away, the man appeared to reach into her cart and take her wallet out of her purse and then immediately left the store.

The man then tried to use the victim's credit card at Target. The man was seen leaving the Target around 10:45 a.m. in a four-door silver hatchback.

In the second case, which happened around 1:15 p.m., a man and woman entered the Whole Foods and approached another elderly woman who was shopping in the store.

The man then appeared to distract the victim as the woman reached into her cart and took her purse.

The suspects then immediately left the store, and the man tried to use the victim's credit cards at the same Target around 1:50 p.m.

The cards were declined, but the suspects did make off with $350, according to police.

The female suspect appears to be pregnant and had a distinct tattoo on her upper back.

Police are hoping someone will recognize these suspects, who could live in the area.

"This happened in Whole Foods, but it could just as easily happen at any store or at the mall, and these people knew what they were doing, they knew what they were after," said Lieutenant Steven Fink with Abington Township police.

Shoppers Action News spoke with said they plan to be more vigilant of their surroundings now.

"I usually just leave it in my cart, and especially in this neighborhood, we just don't really hear of much crime so I think we're not as vigilant," said Stella Benakis, from Huntingdon Valley.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ryan Duntzee at 267-536-1106 or rduntzee@abington.org.