Police warn Boardman shoppers about purse theft suspects

Police are urging women to keep a close eye on their wallets and purses as investigators hope someone can help them find a couple suspected of preying on shoppers at two Boardman Township stores.

Police are asking the public to help identify a man and a woman who they believe worked together to steal the wallet of a 71-year-old woman as she shopped at the Kohl's in The Shops at Boardman Park on June 22.

According to police, the female suspect struck up a conversation with the victim to distract her while her alleged partner reached into her purse and grabbed her wallet. The victim told police she had her purse open because she was expecting a call and wanted to hear her phone if it rang.

Surveillance video shows the suspects left the store in a red or maroon Dodge Grand Caravan. The van had no front plate, and the numbers and letters on the rear plate are not clear in the video.

Throughout the video, the man is seen stalking females while the female suspect can be seen within a certain distance from him.

Police say a man with a similar description was involved in a similar crime the following day at the TJMaxx in Boardman.

One suspect is described as a light-skinned black male in his 30's who is approximately 5'10” to 6 feet tall with an average build. He was wearing red shoes, blue jeans, a denim blue button-up shirt, and a black hat. He also had a thin, dark-colored beard.

The other suspect is a white female with long, dark hair. She is in her late 20s to 30s with a heavier build, approximately 5' 2” in height. She was wearing a red shirt and white pants.

Meanwhile, police are asking women to watch their purses. If they are putting them on the back of their chairs at restaurants, they should be zipped tight. If you are shopping, don’t leave the purses open and unattended in carts.

If you have information about the suspects or the crimes, contact Boardman Police at 330-726-4144.