Authorities say two serial pickpockets stole wallets from dozens of elderly women in seven jurisdictions, using their credit cards to purchase about $100,000 of gift cards.
Montgomery County police allege that 40-year-old Tamara H. Claiborne, of D.C., would distract elderly female shoppers in a conversation while Jonathan S. Washington, 50, of Hyattsville, would steal their wallets .The pair then used stolen credit cards to buy gift cards to retail stores that included Target, Best Buy and Home Depot, police said.
Police say the couple is linked to about 50 incidents in Montgomery, Fairfax, Anne Arundel, Howard and Arlington counties, as well as Annapolis and Greenbelt. The alleged thefts occurred from August 2009 until this month.
– Emily Babay
