In Need of Help, Thieving Woman Helps Herself to Social Service Worker's Purse

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Midlothian woman seeking help from Together We Cope helped herself to a worker’s purse.

The worker had stepped away from her desk at the Oak Park Avenue social services organization to file papers when her client reached into a drawer and snatched her Prada purse.

The purse was stolen Feb. 20. It contained $35, a debit card, a credit card, insurance cards and two Mass cards.

After stealing the purse, the Midlothian woman apparently used the credit and debit cards to go on a south suburban shopping spree, living it up at McDonalds’ in both Calumet City and Calumet Park, the Walmart in Orland Hills, and the Happy Nails in Riverdale, as well as the Jared jewelry store, Macy’s, Carson’s and Fannie Mae in Orland Park.

She also used the debit card at a Calumet Park spa, police said.

The woman was reportedly caught on surveillance video stealing the purse.