Suspects Sought Of Theft Of Elderly Ladies Wallet
On February 25, 2020 a 80 year female victim reported to police that the day before she was shopping at a grocery store in Merrillville and her wallet was stolen from her purse, Captain James Gonzales of The Hobart Police told RNS. She stated after her wallet was stolen she was contacted by the bank and she was told that over $1000.00 dollars had been charged to her credit card. The victim stated she told the credit card company that she didn’t make the charge(s). The charges were found to have been made at a store located in Schererville on or about February 24, 2020. The suspects shown in the surveillance images were shown on surveillance video distracting the elderly victim and subsequently removing her wallet from her purse, while she was at the Merrillville grocery store, Gonzales said. The same suspects are then later shown at the store in Schererville using the elderly victim’s credit card with out her knowledge.
“It’s unfortunate that people continue to prey on our elderly generation, I encourage our seniors that if they plan to go shopping or run errands to have a companion with them,” Gonzales said. Gonzales offered these tips, if you have to travel by yourself, take only what is necessary (ID, Credit Card or Cash, cell phone) and be very cognizant of your surroundings. If you notice someone is invading your personal space or are attempting to start a conversation with you about nonsensical topics, remove yourself from the area immediately and report it to a store employee immediately.
Anyone with information on the identity of the suspects can contact Detective Sergeant Steve Houck at shouck@cityofhobart.org or at his desk phone at 219-942-4399.
