Tim Ryan tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano police say they have a possible suspect in a pair of purse-snatchings this week that targeted elderly drivers, but the incidents are under investigation.
The first theft was reported Wednesday in the village of Gresham.
According to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, a female subject approached an 85-year-old woman, who was in her vehicle at the time, and told her that her brake light was not working.
When the woman went to the back of the vehicle to check, the female subject stole the woman’s purse from the car, then fled in a vehicle of her own.
A similar incident was reported Friday morning in the 1300 block of East Elizabeth Street in the city of Shawano.
This time, a 93-year-old woman had just parked her car in her garage, according to the police report, when a female subject pulled up and told her that her tail light was out.
The woman thanked her and then went to her mailbox at the side of the road. Meanwhile, the female subject went into the woman’s garage and came out with the woman’s purse. She then got into her car and drove off.
Authorities were able to get a license plate number and description of the suspect from the victims.
Police Chief Mark Kohl said authorities Friday afternoon were trying to make contact with a possible suspect.