Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced today the search for those responsible for the theft of an 85 year old woman’s wallet and the use of her credit cards.

Sheriff Lott stated that on March 24, 2008 around 4:00 PM the victim’s wallet was stolen from her purse while she was in the elevator at Providence NE Hospital. While the victim was on the elevator with two unknown male suspects, one of the suspects acted as if his hand was caught in the elevator door. The victim, her daughter, and her husband tried to aid this individual while the second subject stood behind them and removed Mrs. Price’s wallet from her purse. Sheriff Lott stated that the victim received a call from her bank a few hours later stating there had been some unusual activity on her Bank of America Visa – at that time the victim realized her wallet was missing along with her Visa, Belk, and Sears Cards. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department and Providence Hospital Administration are working together in an effort to capture those responsible for the victimization of the 85 year old woman.   

Sheriff Lott stated that as a result of this theft the victim’s cards have been used at a number of area businesses by the person pictured in the photographs below. The suspect in the photograph has obtained several thousands of dollars worth of gift cards and merchandise from at least seven businesses in the outbound Two Notch Road area (Belks, Home Depot, Lowes, Old Navy, Circuit City, Office Depot, and Shoe Carnival). The victim and her daughter identified the person pictured using the victim’s bank card as the suspect who acted as if his hand was caught in the elevator.

Anyone with information on the identity of those responsible or the location of the stolen items to call crimestoppers at 888-559-tips or go to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com – crimestoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible in this case or any crime.

April 18, 2008