The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help with identifying a man who investigators believe might have information about the theft of a wallet from a victim’s purse at the Kroger on West Walnut Avenue. The man was recorded lingering near the woman’s shopping cart while she was distracted and then immediately left the store.
The incident happened March 23, at the Kroger at 1365 West Walnut Ave.
between 12:30 and 1 p.m. The victim discovered her wallet was missing from her purse when she tried to pay for her groceries. When speaking to an officer to report the theft, she reported that she had stopped to help a man in a wheelchair and when she was distracted, she saw a man standing near her shopping cart, but she did not think anything of it.
A review of store surveillance shows a black man with a shaved head wearing a white polo shirt with a blue collar and blue jeans with sunglasses walk up to the victim’s unattended shopping cart and stopping by the cart which contained the victim’s purse. The suspect was then shown pushing his cart to the front of the store where he abandoned it with all of his items still inside and left without buying anything.
The victim’s wallet was a pink-floral patterned Vera Bradley wallet containing bank cards, identification, and $10 in cash. The victim later reported that someone attempted to use her bank cards at a Shell station in Kennesaw, Ga., but they were declined.
Anyone with information on the identity of the man pictured or this incident is asked to contact Detective Brian Shirley at 706 278-9085, dial 9, and enter extension 189.