Herald Square Pickpocket Goes On Shopping Sprees, Police Say

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The NYPD is trying to identify a pickpocket who has been lifting wallets in the Herald Square area and using stolen credit cards to go on shopping spree, police said.

An unknown woman is wanted in connection with three thefts that have occurred in the Midtown shopping district since September, police said. The pickpocket works quickly, often using stolen cards to make purchases before her victims even realize their wallets are missing, police said.

Here's a breakdown of the pickpocket's crimes:

• On Sept. 11, a 35-year-old woman realized her wallet had been stolen from her purse, police said. The pickpocket was seen using the stolen cards to make purchases at a West 34th Street Uniqlo store the night before the wallet was reported missing.
• On Oct. 4, a 64-year-old woman's wallet was stolen from her purse. The pickpocket used stolen cards from the wallet to make purchases at H&M on Broadway and West 34th Street, police said.
• On Nov. 3, a 47-year-old woman told police that her wallet had been stolen from her purse. About 40 minutes prior to the report, the pickpocket used stolen cards to make purchase at Macy's flagship location on West 34th street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, police said.

The pickpocket is described as a woman in her 20s or 30s who was last seen wearing glasses and dark clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD