Gastonia Police Department Warning About Pickpocketing

September 17, 2024

Jack Hale,

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Two of the three suspects (in blue sweatshirt and dark collared shirt) are seen pickpocketing a distracted woman.
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Two of the three suspects (in blue sweatshirt on top of the screen and in white sweatshirt on bottom of the screen) seen buying gift cards while an employee is distracted.

GASTONIA, N.C. – The Gastonia Police Department is warning citizens to be on the lookout for three men, who are seemingly working together in a coordinated effort so steal from people as they are distracted.

Caught on a surveillance camera in a Publix on Hoffman Road in Gastonia, two of the three suspects are seen stealing a woman’s wallet out of her purse as she is distracted and disappear before she notices.

The men are seen at a nearby Home Depot buying gift cards 30 minutes after robbing the woman in Publix, where one of the suspects distracts the Home Depot employees.

During the distraction, one of the other suspects is at self-checkout buying the gift cards.

The suspects bought gift cards in three separate transactions, which totaled $2,850.48.

Detectives want to remind citizens about protecting their personal space in public with three tips:

Don’t become an easy target; Always zip your purse/pocketbook.
Never turn away leaving your belongings out of sight or unprotected; Be aware of who is around you and take note of people lingering near you.
Minimize how much cash you carry in your wallet/purse.