BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Three people were accused of stealing a woman's purse in a Beaverton store and then running up a $16,000 tab on her credit cards in and around the Washington Square Mall.
The victim called police July 22 to report identity theft after a trip to the Beaverton TJ Maxx store, according to Officer Mike Rowe of the Beaverton Police Department.
She told officers she had been distracted by a young lady in the store and did not notice her wallet was missing until she attempted to pay for the items in her cart.
"She thought that her wallet might have been in her car or at home, but was unable to find it," Rowe said. "She called her bank and credit card providers and discovered her cards had been used in the Beaverton area at different stores."
The victim believes the woman who distracted her was responsible for the theft. Investigators found that the cards had been used at the Apple Store, Nordstrom, Victoria's Secret and Best Buy.
Police believe the three people responsible for the theft (pictured) were on security cameras in the TJ Maxx store and ask anyone who can identify them to call (503) 629-0111.
In a similar case last week, five people in Keizer were suspected of stealing a woman's wallet and buying thousands of dollars in merchandise with her credit cards. Police did not say if the two incidents were related.
