Local News

Police on South Shore issue warning after series of wallet thefts

“In most of the thefts, the victim has not immediately realized their wallet has been stolen as the purse is still in the shopping cart.”

April 23, 2024

1 minute to read

Police on the South Shore are warning the public to be on guard after several people reported having their wallets stolen while out shopping.

Norwell police said the incidents took place at several different locations in town and were not specific to a particular business, but in all of the situations, investigators said the victim had placed their purse inside of a shopping cart.

The suspects in the thefts have been captured on video surveillance, posing as shoppers as they search for a target, police said. They then allegedly steal the wallet, leaving the purse in the shopping cart.

“In most of the thefts, the victim has not immediately realized their wallet has been stolen as the purse is still in the shopping cart,” police said. “This has allowed the suspects time to leave the store and charge items at different locations before the victim is even aware the wallet is missing.”

Police urged residents not to leave their purses unattended in shopping carts and to be aware of their surroundings. The department said similar incidents have been reported across the state and that investigators do not believe that the suspects are from the South Shore area.

Norwell police said the incidents are still under investigation and released photos of individuals they are looking to identify. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.