Sheriff’s Department on lookout for serial pickpocket

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a serial pickpocket who has stolen from at least seven people in the last two weeks.

The suspect is known to approach women in grocery stores and ask for help finding recipe ingredients before taking their wallets, according to a news release issued by the sheriff’s department.

The suspect often explains that she works for an elderly person and is trying to surprise them with a special meal, according to the release.

Authorities describe the suspect as friendly and spending a significant amount of time with the victims before grabbing their wallets out of a purse, according to the release.

After stealing the wallet, the suspect uses victims’ credit cards at local stores and often makes purchases before the victims even know they’ve been targeted, according to the release.

The seven crimes in question occurred between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, but law enforcement is searching for others who may have been victimized under similar circumstances, according to the release.

Anyone who may have information to share is asked by the sheriff’s department to call 916-876-5733.