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Churchgoers victimized by theft
REDLANDS - Detectives are seeking help identifying a woman who has stolen wallets from unattended purses inside at least two Redlands churches within the last month.
The woman then used stolen credit cards at Vons and Ralphs markets in Redlands, Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga and a Yucaipa gas station, police said.
The first theft occurred Aug. 30 after Sunday service at First Congregational Church at Olive Avenue and Cajon Street. The victim left her purse in a cabinet during fellowship.
Two weeks later, the same woman is suspected of snatching a wallet from another unattended purse, this time following a service at First Lutheran Church at Cypress Avenue and San Mateo Street, less than two miles away in Redlands' south end.
This victim was serving food in the church's kitchen at the time, said Redlands police spokesman Carl Baker.
"You would think that people are a little more relaxed in church," Baker said, warning against leaving valuables out of eyesight. "They don't expect that someone is going to be stealing stuff from them.
"But sinners go there, too."
Tracking the stolen credit card activity, detectives pulled surveillance video from various markets and found the same woman making purchases following the thefts.
She is described as middle aged, 5-foot-5 and roughly 200 pounds, with light-brown hair just below the shoulder.
Anyone with information on the woman or the thefts may call Redlands police Sgt. Vonn Layel at 909-798-7627 or Investigator Larry Hawkins at 909-798-7659.
The woman then used stolen credit cards at Vons and Ralphs markets in Redlands, Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga and a Yucaipa gas station, police said.
The first theft occurred Aug. 30 after Sunday service at First Congregational Church at Olive Avenue and Cajon Street. The victim left her purse in a cabinet during fellowship.
Two weeks later, the same woman is suspected of snatching a wallet from another unattended purse, this time following a service at First Lutheran Church at Cypress Avenue and San Mateo Street, less than two miles away in Redlands' south end.
This victim was serving food in the church's kitchen at the time, said Redlands police spokesman Carl Baker.
"You would think that people are a little more relaxed in church," Baker said, warning against leaving valuables out of eyesight. "They don't expect that someone is going to be stealing stuff from them.
"But sinners go there, too."
Tracking the stolen credit card activity, detectives pulled surveillance video from various markets and found the same woman making purchases following the thefts.
She is described as middle aged, 5-foot-5 and roughly 200 pounds, with light-brown hair just below the shoulder.
Anyone with information on the woman or the thefts may call Redlands police Sgt. Vonn Layel at 909-798-7627 or Investigator Larry Hawkins at 909-798-7659.
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