Wallet Snatchers on the Move in Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield Township police said a trio of recent wallet thefts should serve as a warning to shoppers to keep their purses strapped to their bodies.

Det. Sgt. James Gallagher told Patch that three recent thefts at Trader Joe’s Costco and Starbucks are likely related, and that two individuals are believed to be working in tandem to swipe the wallets and run up “substantial” charges on credit cards.

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“Keep your purse on your shoulder, and make sure your purse is zipped up,” Gallagher said. “In all of these, the purses were left open, exposing whatever contents were inside.

“These are crimes of opportunity,” he said.

The first incident, at the Trader Joe’s store t 6536 Telegraph Road, occurred Oct. 15.

The victim placed her purse, which was unzipped at the time, in the top tray of the shopping cart.

A day later, police responded to a similar call at Costco, 2343 Telegraph, where a male walked past the victim and removed her wallet from the purse, which also had been placed in the tray of the shopping cart.

On the same day, a customer at Starbucks, 3584 West Maple Road, reported her wallet had been taken from her purse.

In all three cases, the credit cards were immediately used, Gallagher said.

Surveillance photos released by Bloomfield Township police showed a blond woman wearing glasses and a cream-colored brimmed hat and a black male.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bloomfield Township police at (248) 433-7764.

“If people think they recognize them, let us rule them out,” Gallagher said.