Thief Snatches Purse in Walmart Parking Lot

A simple trip for groceries ended up being anything but routine for a woman who found herself targeted by a thief in the Citrus Park Walmart parking lot recently.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says the woman was putting bags into her vehicle around 6:06 p.m. June 23 when a silver, two-door Acura pulled up beside her. A person jumped out of that car’s passenger side and swiped the woman’s purse right off her shoulder, a media release from the sheriff’s office says.

While the woman couldn’t tell if the suspect was a male or a female, deputies have a basic description of the person and they managed to snag a surveillance photo of the car.

The attacker is described as a white male or female who weighs between 150 and 170 pounds. The person stands between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 9 inches in height and has a thin build, light complexion and long black hair.

The car used in the crime is a gray or silver, two-door Acura.

Do you recognize the car or know about the crime? Call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200. You can also submit tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477). To report a tip anonymously, just visit www.crimestopperstb.com or text "CSTB plus your tip" to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637).