Crime & Safety

Police: Woman Stole Wallet off Back of Wheelchair

Police: The woman made $14,000 in fraudulent purchases with the stolen cards.

Police released photos Wednesday of a woman who they say stole credit cards from the bags of two women—one confined to a wheelchair—and used the cards to make fraudulent purchases, according to a police statement.

Detectives say the same woman was responsible for both incidents, which happened in Bethesda and Aspen Hill.

The first victim's wallet was stolen from her backpack—which she kept on the back of her wheelchair—while she shopped June 30 at Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda. On her way home from the mall, the victim discovered that her wallet was missing, police said.

Find out what's happening in Potomacwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She called her credit card companies and discovered that, in about two-and-a-half hours, about $3,000 worth of purchases had been made with her cards at multiple locations in the Wheaton area, police said. 

On July 10, a woman who had been eating out with her family earlier in the day discovered that her credit cards had been stolen from her purse. The woman had placed the purse on a chair at Panera, at 13521 Connecticut Ave., in the Aspen Hill Shopping Center, while she picked up her food at the counter, according to police.

Find out what's happening in Potomacwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After calling her credit card companies, she learned that, in about three hours, her cards had been used to make about $11,000 worth of purchases across Montgomery County, police reported.

Detectives have videos of fraudulent transactions involving both victims' credit cards.

Police ask that anyone who recognizes the suspect in the video or photos above, or who has information about these crimes, call the 4th District Petty Crimes Unit at 240-773-5476. 

To remain anonymous, call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, toll-free, at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or leave a Crime Solvers tip here. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest or indictment for these crimes.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.