San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from the San Diego Police Department’s Elder Abuse Unit are asking for assistance from the public to help identify and locate two unknown male suspects wanted for grand theft.
Detectives said on Sunday, December 29, 2013, around mid-afternoon, an 80-year-old female victim was shopping at the Whole Foods market located at 8825 Villa La Jolla Drive. The victim placed her open purse, containing her wallet, in the top basket of her shopping cart as she walked through the store. The two unknown suspects followed the victim while she shopped inside the store. While in the frozen foods section, one of the suspects distracted the victim by asking for the location of a food item. As the victim helped the suspect, the second suspect took the wallet from inside her purse. The victim did not see the suspect take the wallet, but realized quickly the wallet was missing. Both suspects were last seen walking out of the store.
Both suspect images, as well as video of the grand theft, were captured by a surveillance camera; the images are attached to page two of the release. A copy of the video can be seen on YouTube at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9BxudqIb_o&feature=youtu.be
Anyone with information on this case should call the SDPD Elder Abuse Unit at (619) 446-1063 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent in via www.sdcrimestoppers.com.
- Media inquiries about the case can be directed to Lt. Kevin Mayer (619) 531-2675.
- Media inquiries about Crime Stoppers can be directed to James Johnson (619) 531-1500 or Adriana Uribe (619) 531-1547.
For information leading to an arrest, you could receive up to a $1,000 reward and remain anonymous. The qualification of any person(s) for the reward and the amount of the reward for any person(s) so qualifying will be determined by San Diego County Crime Stoppers, Inc, in its sole discretion. The amount of all rewards given shall not exceed $1,000. Information must be received on the tip line, (888) 580-8477.