Cops: Thief takes wallets from Gwinnett Publix shoppers, uses cards

Gwinnett County police are trying to identify a suspect they believe took multiple Publix shoppers’ wallets and then spent nearly $2,000 on the victims’ cards.

The first theft occurred Aug. 5 at the Publix on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. The suspect took a victim’s wallet while the victim was shopping and used the victim’s credit card in an attempt to buy $200 in gift cards from a nearby Walgreens. The charges at Walgreens were no successful, according to police.

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The second theft occurred on Aug. 6 at the Publix on Holcomb Bridge Road in Peachtree Corners. The suspect took a wallet from a shopper’s purse and then used the victim’s credit card to buy $1,700 in gift cards from Walgreens locations on Peachtree Parkway, Sugarloaf Parkway and Buford Highway, police said.

The suspect was described as a woman with short hair and wore a black jacket, black pants and orange shoes during both alleged thefts. She is believed to be driving a dark-colored Chevrolet HHR and may have an out-of-state license plate. The car’s passenger side brake light is also out, police said.