Cops: Help Us Find These Thieves & Be Alert

GUILFORD, CT — The alleged thieves stalked first.

A man and woman studied their victim as she sat with co-workers enjoying lunch, her purse hanging on her chair. A video surveillance camera captures the suspects, a man and a woman, standing in line behind their "purse target," Guilford Police said in a Facebook post, that hopes by blasting the images on social, hopefully, they'll catch up with the alleged crooks.

As police explain it, the purse thieves leave the restaurant with the bag, and drive north on Interstate 95, "headed to other shoreline towns," police said, to use the credit cards and money inside the purse.

Police said the woman seen in the video is also seen leaving an unnamed store after purchasing $200 in gift cards and $1030 in merchandise. She also attempted to use cards in "other unsuspecting victims' names" before leaving the store, police said.

Then, the man seen in the restaurant security video where they stole a Guilford woman's purse, is seen in other security video with another woman at another store "making thousands of dollars in purchases and attempted purchases. Several cards were declined but the female miraculously kept finding new ones to try. As discovered with the other female suspect, there were other unsuspecting victim cards used during their purchase party."

Cops are looking for these people.

Based on timestamps seen on video images, the theft appears to have taken place Oct. 30.

In an engaging and informative social media post, Guilford Police Sgt. Jakober tells the story:

"You head to a local restaurant to enjoy a nice meal with a co-worker. You place your purse on the back of your chair while you eat and carry on a great conversation. Then you leave the restaurant... feeling like this is going to be a good day and head back to work. A few hours after lunch, you begin to get multiple notifications that various credit cards have been used or were attempted to be used at numerous shoreline locations outside of Guilford... to the tune of nearly $4000... only you haven't left Guilford... in fact you are still at work..."

"After looking at the cameras and getting some decent footage of the people that ruined the day of one of our residents... we thought they should become Facebook Famous while providing awareness to the community that stealing is indeed a living for some people ..."

"It is important to realize that whether you are in a coffee shop, a dinner place, a grocery store, or any public place... your purse or wallet is a valuable commodity for someone looking to steal it.
We harp on locking car doors because locking car doors removes opportunity to steal from the car... and now we will annoy you with keeping your purses and wallets in your sights or protected from would-be thieves like seen here."

"So we would like to use the power of social media to blast out the images of the people using one of our resident's credit cards... as well as other unsuspecting victim's cards.... in hopes that someone out there will recognize them and encourage them to turn themselves in... or... just give us a call and let us know where they are... we will handle the rest."

"In addition, we will take this opportunity to make sure people recognize that these types of preventable thefts do occur and to be aware of your surroundings. We are coming up on the holidays season and many of us get distracted in stores or businesses and walk away from our cart or table for just a moment... and that is all it takes."

"So give us a call at 203-453-8061 or the anonymous tip line at 203-453-8240 or just message us the details through private message. Thank you for sharing and stay alert."