Police recently arrested a man who allegedly stole purses and wallets from elderly women in Nutley grocery stores.

According to law enforcement, the suspect made a habit of snatching the purses of elderly victims over the past few months. The suspect is accused of committing the theft crimes throughout New Jersey, including Essex County, Bergen County, and Middlesex County.

Several law enforcement agencies joined forces to conduct an investigation into the series of thefts. Investigators looked at surveillance camera footage from a theft at a Nutley NJ supermarket and were able to identify the suspect as a 62-year-old man from Elizabeth, NJ. The surveillance images reportedly show the suspect waiting until an elderly woman inside the grocery store is distracted and then snatching her unattended wallet. The victim later told police that her wallet had several hundred dollars.

In other thefts, the suspect allegedly stole money and credit cards.

Police officers eventually located the suspect at a house in Wallington, New Jersey. He was arrested without incident and charged with a host of crimes, including theft of movable property.

After being placed under arrest and charged, the suspect was taken to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail for the time being, but he may eventually be transferred to Essex County, NJ.

To learn more about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Cops Search for Serial Senior Citizen Wallet Snatcher.”