Palo Alto, CA -- Yesterday, May 12, 2002, at 3:20PM, Palo Alto Police arrested two women who stole credit cards from a purse in a downtown restaurant. At around 2:00PM, the victim was sitting at a table at Zao Noodles with her purse slung over the back of her chair. (More on that later!) Two women took a table behind her and bumped her chair as they were sitting down. Two minutes later they left the restaurant without being served. The victim noticed that her purse was now open on the floor - minus her credit cards and some cash. She immediately called the police and her credit card companies.

One of the credit card companies reported that one of the cards had just been used at a gas station on El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Fraud Detective Sasha Priess, who was familiar with the workings of the wallet snatchers, called several stores south of Palo Alto. He hit paydirt when the Target store in Mountain View reported that two women were inside shopping with the stolen cards. When the two left the store, they were met by Palo Alto and Mountain View police officers that took them into custody and recovered the stolen cards.

Police arrested Avis Lynn Hart, 46, of Menlo Park and Theresa Elaine Scott, 45, a transient from the East Bay.

Both were booked at the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of Conspiracy, Grand Theft from a Person, and Possession of Stolen Property. Hart was also booked on a parole violation and Scott, on an assault warrant from Solano County. Palo Alto and Mountain View Police are coordinating the investigation of the use of the stolen credit cards and an additional shoplifting charge at Target and may request additional charges.

Over the past year, Palo Alto has been experiencing a number of thefts from purses in the downtown area. The arrest of these two women leaves several groups of suspects outstanding. People are reminded to keep track of their purses by either putting them on the table in front of them or under their chair with the strap wrapped around their foot. If credit cards are stolen, immediately report the loss to the police and the credit card companies.

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