TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A woman who’s purse was stolen while shopping at a Terre Haute Kroger store had more than $6,000 drained from her bank account within days of the theft.
That’s according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Vigo County Superior Court 3 regarding charges filed against 22-year-old Georgia R. Jones of Terre Haute.
An investigating deputy with the Terre Haute Police Department said the incident occurred on January 26 at the Kroger located on Wabash Avenue. Surveillance footage would reportedly show Jones approach a woman’s cart in the produce department before grabbing the woman’s red purse from the cart while the victim was distracted. The theft occurred just 5 minutes after the victim entered the store.
Following the grab, Jones reportedly walked to another area of the store and knelt down to go through what was inside the purse, surveillance video reportedly showed Jones remove a wallet and leave the purse behind as she exited the store just 9 minutes after the victim had arrived.
In checking with bank transaction records for the two debit cards stolen along with the wallet, police reported that one card had 46 transactions attempted or completed with a total amount spent of $5,151.58. While the second card stolen had 21 attempted or completed transactions for a total amount spent of $956.16.
Transactions occurred at three local businesses, an employee at a local gas station after viewing the security footage of the transactions, identified the suspect to police as Jones.
Court records show that Jones has been charged with the following;
- Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50,000
- A level 6 felony
- Fraud with loss between $750 & $50,000
- A level 6 felony
- Possession of marijuana
- A class B misdemeanor
- Possession of paraphernalia
- A class C misdemeanor
Jones is next due in court for a hearing on the matter at 10 a.m. on March 4.
