Can You Identify This Purse Thief?
Lee County deputies are searching for the man who stole an elderly woman’s purse and went on a shopping spree with her credit card.
On November 10th, the 87-year-old victim was shopping at Wal Mart in North Fort Myers with her adult daughter. She placed her purse in the shopping cart and left it with her daughter. The daughter walked away from the shopping cart temporarily to assist a person in a wheelchair. At that moment, the purse was snatched from the cart.
The victim and her daughter didn’t notice the purse was not with them until later that day.
In that period of time, the thief used the victim’s credit card, charging hundreds of dollars in purchases at a nearby grocery store, gas station and liquor store.
Detectives are releasing pictures of the suspect using the card at the 7-Eleven on Hancock Bridge Parkway just off U.S. 41 in North Fort Myers. The suspect is a black male, possibly Haitian; approximately 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds. The vehicle he gassed up on the victim’s credit card is a 2011 or 2012 white or crme colored Ford Expedition or Ford Explorer.
If you can identify this suspect, call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 477-1000. Or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000, call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org, through the TipSubmit app on any iPhone or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.