Police Warn Shoppers of Drive-By Thefts

Brookfield police are looking for suspects in two robberies last week in the parking lot of , 143 Federal Road. In both instances, the victims and witnesses told police they saw the perpetrators leave in a white sedan.

On November 24, a shopper reported an electronic tablet (similar to a Samsung Galaxy or iPad) was stolen out of her shopping cart near . According to the victim, she was loading groceries into her car when a white sedan, possibly a Toyota Camry, drove up to her cart with a passenger hanging out of the window, grabbing the tablet as they drove by.

A similar incident occurred on November 26, in which a purse was snatched. The victim was also loading groceries into her vehicle, when a Hispanic male approached her shopping cart after exiting a vehicle, took her purse and left. Both the victim and witnesses described the vehicle as an older, while sedan with dark tinted windows.

No license plate was visible and witnesses stated the vehicle might have been a Honda Accord or a Toyota.

“Brookfield Police Department has increased their patrols through shopping complexes as we normally do throughout the holiday season,” Patrolman Joseph Dzamko said. “Police urge citizens to be aware to what is occurring around them and as a rule of thumb, secure your purse and belongings in your vehicle prior to loading your purchases.”

Dzamko added that shoppers should remember never to leave valuables unattended and to lock their cars in parking lots and when parked in front of their residences.