Due to thefts, Oak Creek police advise women to leave purses home when shopping

Police are advising women not to place their purses in their shopping carts after two women had their wallets stolen while shopping at Oak Creek grocery stores last week.

According to the Oak Creek police reports:

A man stole a wallet out of an 80-year-old woman's purse while she was shopping at Pick 'n Save, 6462 S. 27th St., about 3 p.m. Jan. 26. The woman told police the man took the wallet out of her open purse after he helped her load a six-pack of water and some Solo cups into her shopping cart.

The man is described as a 6-foot-tall man with light brown skin; short, dark hair and a grayish goatee; and wearing a dark tan jacket. The wallet, worth about $9, contained a driver's license, medical cards, a credit and debit card, a $25 gift certificate and other membership cards.

Police checked with store security but the incident was not captured on video surveillance.

A short while later a woman reported her wallet had been stolen at Woodman's, 8131 S. Howell Ave., between 1:30 and 3 p.m. The wallet, which contained $25, four credit cards, two debit cards, one check card, a driver's license and medical cards, was taken from a shopping cart.

While calling to cancel one of her credit cards at 4:30 p.m. that day, the bank informed the victim that her card was being used at Lowe's in Franklin. An officer followed up with Lowe's, who stated that no one was working in security at that time. Police are following up with store security.

Oak Creek Community Resource Officer Kim Bogadi added that women should consider leaving their purse at home when they shop.

"Before you go shopping, think about the only things you will need - like your debit card, a credit card or some cash," Bogadi said, "then take only those things with you and leave your purse at home."