Irvine police say the suspect targets office buildings mainly located in the business areas east of the John Wayne Airport. She targets unattended wallets in work areas and takes credit cards and cash. She usually throws the wallets away, sometimes in the parking structure of the office building she stole them from.
Afterward, she immediately heads to stores like Target, Macys, Best Buy or Apple to buy merchandise or high-value gift cards with the stolen cash or plastic. The average gift card purchase ranges from $500 to $800 and the average purchase of combined merchandise and gift cards amounts to $2,000.
She has entered at least eight different office buildings and stolen wallets from nine female victims.
The suspect is described as a white female in her late 30s or early 40s, about 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 140-160 pounds with shoulder-length, wavy light blond hair with dark brown roots. Investigators say she usually wears business attire, usually dresses.
Surveillance footage shows her on two different occasions driving a 2009-2011 white or silver Chevrolet Suburban with tinted rear windows and no license plates.
Detectives say they've linked this crime pattern to at least one other city and are working to identify others that may be connected.
If you recognize this woman or if you have any information regarding the case, you're urged to contact Irvine Police Department Detective S. Tunnicliffe at (949) 724-7170.
