Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Wal-Mart Theft Ring

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department is investigating a series of thefts that have occurred at the Arkansas side Wal-Mart Supercenter. It is possible that these thefts have occurred at other stores in the Texarkana area as well.

During each theft a group of suspects has approached an unsuspecting customer inside the store. Usually the victim is a lone female shopper whose purse has been left sitting in a shopping cart. One of the suspects has distracted the victim's attention by asking a question or engaging in a conversation, at which time an accomplice has removed the victim's wallet from the unattended purse. These crimes have taken only a few seconds to occur. By the time the victims have realized that their wallet was missing the suspect has left the store. In some cases the suspect only removed the contents of the wallet making it more difficult to notice the theft.

At this time the suspects have been observed to be a heavyset black female and two unknown black males. The same female suspect has also been seen at different times entering the store with two other black females. They have not been identified at this time. Each suspect has taken an active role in either the distraction of the victim, or the actual theft.

Shoppers are encouraged to keep their wallets in their immediate possession while shopping at any business. It is also recommended that you do not leave your shopping cart unattended for any length of time while selecting items from a shelf. Again, it is worth noting that in most of these cases the victim's wallets were removed from the purse, opened or unzipped, contents removed, and the wallet actually replaced without the victim knowing. This occurred right beside the victim.

Please be attentive to your surroundings and notify store security and the police of any suspicious behavior you might encounter. Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is encouraged to notify TAPD or Texarkana area CrimeStoppers at (903)793-STOP.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.