Marathon County Crime Stoppers is asking for help identifying a man and woman suspected of stealing a wallet from a purse in Rib Mountain, then immediately using the victim’s credit cards to make thousands of dollars in purchases. Police say the suspects committed similar crimes throughout the state in October.
Police say the theft happened at about 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, when a woman was shopping at JoAnn Fabrics. The victim was approached by a woman who was asking her questions about items in the store. While the victim was distracted, a man stole the victim’s wallet from her purse, which was in her shopping cart.
The victim continued to shop for about 20 minutes, not realizing that her wallet, credit cards and other items were missing. Meanwhile, the thieves were busy making about $5,600 worth of purchases at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, Younkers, and Victoria’s Secret using the victim’s credit cards.
Police describe the man as approximately 6 feet tall, 230 pounds; wearing glasses, a black hat with a Porsche or Ferrari emblem, a gray shirt with long black sleeves with a black hood, and black pants.
The female suspect is described as being about 5’2? tall with an average build, and well dressed with longer brown hair.
Both suspects had eastern European accents, police said.
The suspects’ vehicle appears to be a grey 2015-2018 KIA Sedona minivan.
The Rib Mountain theft is just one of several crimes connected with the suspects, police say. The couple is also suspected in an Oct. 19 theft in Green Bay, an Oct. 20 theft in Eau Claire, and in multiple cities throughout Wisconsin and surrounding states.
Anyone with information should contact Marathon County Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted online at www.marathoncountycrimestoppers.org or by calling 1-877-409-8777. All messages are encrypted to ensure anonymity. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward
