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Police: Pickpockets Target Elderly Women In North Side Neighborhood

(CBS) -- Pickpockets are targeting elderly women at a grocery store in the North Side Irving Park neighborhood.

The robberies both happened in the 3500 block of North Elston, the first about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 and the second about 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 29, according to a community alert from Area North detectives.

During both incidents, an elderly woman was shopping at a grocery store when one person caused a diversion and another stole a wallet or change purse from the woman's purse, police said.

After both robberies, the suspects drove away in a light blue minivan, police said. In each case, police said, a different female suspect used stolen credit and debit cards to make purchases at a nearby department store.

Woman Suspect Pickpocketing Ring
Pickpockets are targeting elderly woman at a grocery store in the North Side Irving Park neighborhood. (Chicago Police)

One of the suspects is described as a black man between 40 and 50 years old, 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, with a shaved or bald head and wearing a black coat, a dark-colored sweater and jeans.

The other suspect is described a black man, also between 40 and 50 years old, 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, with a light mustache and a goatee. He has been seen wearing a tan jacket and jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (312) 744-8263.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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