Crime Stoppers looking for couple who stole elderly woman’s purse

Crime Stoppers of Las Cruces is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps identify the couple suspected of stealing the purse from the shopping cart of an 80-year-old woman.

Police say the elderly woman was shopping at the Walmart store at 571 Walton when her purse was stolen. The theft happened at about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and discovered that a couple could be seen following the 80-year-old woman throughout the store. At some point, the man distracted the 80-year-old shopper while his alleged accomplice snatched the purse.

The couple ran away and were seen leaving the parking lot in a dark-color car, possibly a station wagon or PT Cruiser with faux-wood trim panels on its sides.

Police say the victim’s purse contained cash and bank cards. Investigators learned that the couple further victimized the 80-year-old woman by using one of her bank cards to withdraw cash at Citizens Bank, at 2511 E. Lohman Avenue later that day.

Anyone with information that can help identify the suspects is asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a tip by text message to CRIMES (274637), keyword LCTIPS.

The Crime Stoppers number and text messaging services are operational 24 hours a day and you do not have to give your name to collect a reward.