Three unknown suspects have been targeting shoppers to steal from at Plant City Publix stores.
Between Friday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Nov. 13, the suspects worked together to start conversations with elderly females at two Publix stores, one on James L. Redman Parkway and one on Thonotosassa Road.
The conversation served as a distraction. While suspects talked with the victims, another suspect removed the victims' wallets from their shopping carts.
The suspects, two females and one male, left the Publix stores together in a blue Ford van and went to a CVS store. Using the victims stolen credit cards, the suspects purchased several gift cards totaling over $1,000.
A photo of the van the suspects used was captured at a Plant City gas station.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspects involved in these cases. Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the suspects and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at CrimeStoppersTB.com or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for a cash reward.