Panera Purse Thieves Make 'Brazen' Move In Bel Air: Sheriff

BEL AIR, MD — Criminals have been acting in a way that is "brazen" at area restaurants, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office. In one case, the suspects moved a table to steal a woman's purse.

Surveillance video showed two women pick up a table and walk it across the room at the Bel Air Panera so one could sit close to an unsuspecting victim.

As the diner was engaged in conversation, she slid the woman's purse off her chair.

The victim remained in Panera unaware of the theft.

Meanwhile, the suspects left the restaurant on Bel Air South Parkway to go shopping at the nearby GameStop, before being denied $800 in gift cards they wanted to buy at Target.

The theft at the Festival was the second one of the day, authorities said.

An hour before the Bel Air purse theft, officials allege the same duo stole credit cards from someone at the Panera on Merchant Boulevard.

In Abingdon, authorities said the suspects used the stolen credit cards to buy several pairs of shoes at DSW and a camera at the Target in Constant Friendship.

The thefts occurred Thursday, Aug. 23, and the sheriff's office is asking for help identifying the suspects.

One way to attack the problem was to find the perpetrators, officials said, while another was to focus on prevention. To that end, the Harford County Sheriff's Office contacted management from the Festival at Bel Air and Panera Bread. Now, officials said, posters of the suspects are being shared at area Panera restaurants.

Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Nickolas Gouveian at 410-612-1717.

Investigators said another theft with the same methods happened last Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Cracker Barrel.

Detectives could not disclose the specifics of the investigation but did say that community members can help by being aware of their surroundings; and if they see something, say something to management.

"There was nothing discreet — moving a table across the restaurant for no reason," Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said of the Bel Air Panera incident. "It's amazing that no one thought that was suspicious. On that note, we ask people to keep an eye out."

These are not the first cases of stealthy thieves in Harford County eateries. Three months ago, another woman was captured on surveillance after officials said she pickpocketed customers at the Bel Air and Abingdon Panera restaurants.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 12, there were no updates related to the Panera cases, according to Cristie Hopkins, spokeswoman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

"We are looking at the incidents closely to determine if they are related," Hopkins told Patch. She said that the cases had many similarities but also a few differences. She added: "Even if they are not perpetrated by the same suspects, a possibility exists that the suspects are part of a larger organized theft ring."

"Criminals go through purses left hanging on the back of chairs," the Harford County Sheriff's Office said. "Please be vigilant!" Video and suspect photos from the Panera thefts courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.