Thief Hitting Athens Businesses Seems to Have Been Busy in Winder As Well

The thief enters commercial businesses posing as a maintenance employee and then steals women's wallets, according to a Winder Police Department news release. The department is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect. 

The victims were targeted between noon and 4pm on Tuesday, March 19. Each witness gave similar descriptions of a man who entered the businesses claiming to be someone sent by the building owner to perform services such as carpet cleaning or pest control.

Police say the man was given access to office areas after telling employees he needed to inspect the area for the work he was going to perform. Employees, who were out of their offices, discovered their wallets missing from purses and desks shortly after the man left the buildings.

The man is described by witnesses as a heavy set, middle-aged black man, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. The man also matches descriptions and video images from similar incidents that took place this past weekend in Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties. The man is possibly driving a late '80s or early '90s model four-door Buick passenger car. The color of the car has been described as light blue or grey.

Anyone with information on the suspect's identity is asked to contact Detective Lou Pasqualetti at 706-353-4218 X139. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 706-613-3342.