COOPER CITY, Fla. — A woman stalked an elderly shopper at a Florida Aldi store, stole her wallet and then charged hundreds of dollars on her card, deputies said.
Broward County Sheriff's Office released surveillance video taken just after 4:15 p.m. on June 27 at the Aldi grocery store, located at 4298 N. University Drive in Cooper City. The video shows an elderly woman shopping while her purse sits just inches away from her in a shopping cart.
"The video also shows a heavy-set woman suspiciously following closely behind the victim," BCSO said in a press release. "The thief bides her time waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
Deputies say the woman pretends to shop, placing random items into her shopping cart. She moves closer to the victim’s shopping cart while the victim shops and quickly backs off when the victim turns her attention back to her purse. Finally, the thief gets close enough to reach into the victim’s purse and grab her wallet.
BCSO says that the woman then ditched her shopping cart and fled the store.
The thief is described as a heavy-set female, possibly in her mid-30s, wearing a white visor-style hat, a black and white tie-dyed T-shirt, Capri-length jeans and black shoes.
The same day as the theft, the subject charged $462 on the victim’s credit card at a Macy’s in Pembroke Pines and was captured by security video as she spent $256 at Target using the victim’s debit card.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Christopher Neves at 954-432-9000. Reports can also be made anonymously to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. Anonymous tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
