Investigators warn of pickpocketing duo

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police are looking for a pickpocketing couple they said has been targeting senior citizens.

Police gave Channel 2's Mike Petchenik surveillance video of the pickpockets in action Dec. 20 at several stores in Dunwoody.

One of the victims, who didn't want to be identified, told Petchenik she was shopping at a Walmart on Ashford Dunwoody Road when the male pickpocket struck up a conversation with her about flatware for his grandmother.

"I was dumb, but I was just answering this young man's question about his grandmother," she said.

That's when police believe the female accomplice plucked the victim's wallet out of her purse, which was sitting in the shopping cart's child seat.

"Never in a million years would I have thought anything would have happened to me," she said.

By the time the victim realized what happened, she said, it was too late.

"Within an hour and a half they'd done a lot of damage," she said, adding the couple had racked up a $6,500 bill. "It felt like someone had just stabbed me. It was unbelievable."

Surveillance video shows the couple using the victim's credit card at the Perimeter Mall Macy's.

Detectives said gift cards purchased at the Walmart were used at a store in Metarie, La.

Police said the same couple stole checks from another victim's purse at a Ross Dress For Less store.

They said it should serve as a warning for shoppers, specifically women who leave purses in their carts.

"You definitely want to keep your wallet close to you and be careful of distraction," said Sgt. Mike Carlson of the Dunwoody Police Department.

The victim said she won't be on the hook for the charges, but it's consumed a lot of her time.

"They're just criminals, just low-life, in my opinion," the woman said. "Hopefully they can find people and bring them to justice."

WSBTV