Police Looking for Wallet Thieves Who Target Elderly

Portsmouth Police are searching for two suspects who they say are stealing elderly women's wallets and using their credit cards to charge thousands of dollars or merchandise.

Portsmouth Police Officer Seth Tondreault said police became aware of the thefts after he investigated a stolen wallet theft on January 11 at the Ocean State Job Lots on Woodbury Avenue.

Tondreault said an 83-year-old woman told police she discovered her wallet was missing when she went to pay for items and at first thought she left he wallet at home. After she found the wallet was not at her house, she contacted her bank and learned that more than $5,000 of merchandise had been purchased with her credit cards by the suspects within an hour after her wallet was stolen.

Police soon learned that the elderly woman had been approached by a black female while she was shopping in the store, Tondreault said. She said the black female suspect began talking with her as a black male suspect stole her wallet. Video surveillance cameras showed the black female suspect talking with the elderly victim and also showed her at another store where she was seen purchasing some of the merchandise.

Tondreault said Portsmouth Police are actively working with the Portland, Maine,  Police Department and Greenland Police Department on this case. He said Portland Police investigated a similar theft in that community.

What police have learned so far is that the two suspects:

• Target elderly female patrons who are shopping by themselves.
• Approach and engage these patrons in random and innocuous conversation to distract them.
• A second party lifts wallet or purse from carriage.
• Suspects leave the store and quickly begin to make purchases on Credit Cards/Debit Cards.

"The information obtained during our investigation illustrates a trend of completing these acts near main roadways/highways and areas of condensed commercial businesses. This affords the suspects an easy method to fraudulently obtain goods and to leave the area," Tondreault wrote in the Portsmouth Police press release.

Anyone who has any information are asked to contact Officer Tondreault, Portsmouth Police Department, (603) 610-7613, tondreaults@cityofportsmouth.com, or can report tips anonymously through Seacoast Crime Stoppers, (603) 431-1199.