Authorities in Park Ridge and Northbrook have arrested three women suspected of involvement in a pickpocket "crew" that targeted dozens of people across the northwest suburbs.
Police said they became aware of a pickpocket operation in the last six months to one year, as reports of wallets stolen from customers of businesses – primarily restaurants – flowed in to multiple suburban police departments.
In many of the cases, wallets were taken from restaurant patrons who hung their purses over the backs of their chairs or left them in the adjacent seat, said Park Ridge police Deputy Chief Lou Jogmen.
According to a Northbrook staff memo, the "prolific pickpocket crew" used stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards or electronics, which they would then attempt to resell.
"They were organized," Jogmen said. "It was a criminal enterprise that affected a lot of people."
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