Suspected purse snatchers pose as customers

Dallas police say two purse snatchers are working together, posing as customers and then ripping off unsuspecting shoppers at a northeast Dallas Target.

Shay Sides of Highland Park was in the greeting card section of the SuperTarget at Skillman and Abrams earlier this month, sometime between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon, when a woman approached.

“She looked completely innocent,” said Sides. “Just like a grandmother, shopping.”

The woman stood a little too close for comfort.

“I did notice there was somebody in my personal space behind me,” said Sides. “I couldn't see her, but I just felt her. And I turned around and said, ‘Oh, I'm sorry; am I in your way? Would you like to look at the cards?’ She said, ‘No, I'm fine.’”

Dallas police released surveillance video Friday that shows the two suspects walking into the SuperTarget.

Police say the man stands a few feet away from Shay. She doesn't notice him, and he appears to be shopping, but police believe he's acting as the lookout.

Shay had a tote bag with no zipper and no clasp sitting in the basket. Shay admits making the fateful decision to step a couple feet away.

“My basket was here, and I was right next to my basket looking at the cards,” said Shay. “But it was behind me enough that I didn't see her.”

Moments later, the woman's hand is in the purse, taking her wallet. Engrossed in the greeting cards, Shay continues shopping.

It was later when Shay noticed the wallet was missing.

“I just happened to look down and saw that it was gone,” she said.

It wasn't until a store security guard called her the next day did Shay know for sure that that her wallet was stolen.

She thought she'd lost it.

She has some advice -- besides not leaving your bag unattended:

“I would not take a bag like this,” she said. “Put it across your body, zipped. Definitely don't take it off your body.”