WATCH: Thieves Create Screen, Steal Woman's Wallet At River North Restaurant

(CBS) -- It happened at a popular River North restaurant: a wallet stolen from a women's purse, apparently by a simple scheme.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.

At a cozy corner table in Piccolo Sogno Due's bar Wednesday evening a woman and her friend were enjoying the evening when a couple walked in.

It didn't seem unusual, at first. But a short time later, the woman says she got an alert on her phone saying more than $4,000 had been charged to her credit card. She looked and her wallet was gone. So was that other couple.

Manager Alexandra Bernardi reviewed security video. She says the male suspect apparently used his coat to cover the back of the victim's chair, where her purse was hanging. Then he seems to reach down for about a minute, while his companion stands up as if to provide cover.

The theft victim filled out a police report and is in the process of getting the security video to the Chicago Police Department.

"It just helps to raise awareness for maybe keeping your bag closer to you," Bernardi says.

The restaurant's owner says he's heard of this happening all over the city.