Manchester police hope someone will recognize a woman caught on supermarket surveillance video, who they say stole the purse belonging to a retiree on July 26th.
"[The suspect] saw a moment of opportunity when the victim turned their back, and she removed the purse from the car and she took it. She abandoned her own cart and she just left the store," explained Manchester Police Captain Christopher Davis.
Mary Sblendorio had just returned from vacation and was shopping at the Shop-Rite on Spencer Street in Manchester. She and her husband were stocking up, while someone was stalking them.
"She just stole [my purse] right out of my basket," Mary told NBC Connecticut Thursday, pointing out that the thief wasted no time using her credit cards.
"She knew she had an hour, so she spent $3000 in under an hour."
Police are hopeful and confident someone recognizes the suspect, very clearly depicted by the video.
"This is a despicable act by somebody that's going to try to prey upon elderly victims," Cpt. Davis added. "This person was probably at the store for this very purpose, and in all likelihood has engaged in this sort of behavior beforehand."
