A woman was arrested after distracting an elderly shopper at a grocery store in Irvine and stealing her wallet, possibly as part of a criminal crew, police said Wednesday.
Investigators were initially alerted last month when Cheri Fu, 75, reported theft inside the Trader Joe’s store near UC Irvine.
Fu told NBC Los Angeles that she realized her wallet was gone when she reached the checkout counter. While retracing her steps, Fu realized the moment someone may have taken her wallet from her zipped-up purse, which she was wearing on her shoulder.
“I remembered someone bumped me in the shoulder,” Fu recalled.
The victim said within 15 minutes of realizing her wallet was gone, she started getting fraud alerts from her bank, an Apple store, Macy’s and several other shops in Newport Beach.
Investigators soon spotted a woman, leaving the grocery store with Fu’s wallet in security video footage.
The suspected thief appeared to have been working with a team as other women were also seen in the same area. All were wearing AirPods and communicating with one another, police said.
“(It) raised our suspicion even more that this is an organized crew walked in and didn’t buy anything,” Ziggy Azarcon with the Irvine Police Department said.
Investigators with the Irvine Police Department’s specialized apprehension team began surveilling the woman caught in the security video and eventually arrested the suspect, 51-year-old Andrea Maria Cantor Patino of Los Angeles, on Monday.
“Don’t commit crime in Irvine,” Azarcon said. “We have a team, technology and resources to take you down.”
Police said they are still looking for one man and two other women involved in Fu’s theft.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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