Police Investigate Safeway Purse Snatching

The is alerting the community to a purse theft that occurred earlier this month at the store at 1100 El Camino Real. Police are also asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects.

On Friday, Jan. 13 a 79-year-old San Carlos woman was shopping at the Safeway store, and had placed her purse in the child seat portion of her shopping cart.  Sometime between 5:30pm and 6:00pm, the victim walked away from her cart to gather some items and her purse was taken.

After a review of the store security cameras, investigators were able to learn that an African American male with a stocky build took the purse from the victim’s shopping cart when she wasn't paying attention to her cart.  

Store security cameras then show the male suspect leaving the store with the victim’s purse.  He was apparently in the company of an African American female, who left the store a short time later.  Some of the victim’s credit cards were later used in San Mateo. 

Belmont and San Mateo investigators are working closely on this investigation.

The full descriptions of the suspects are as follows:

Suspect #1:  African American male, 35-45 years of age, medium complexion, medium height, heavy set, shaved or bald head and clean shaven

Suspect #2:  African-American female, 35-45 years of age, dark complexion, medium height, heavy set, with her hair pulled back in a bun.

If you have any information on the above suspects, contact the Belmont Police Department at 650-595-7400.

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