Caught On Tape: Brazen Purse-Snatching At Candy Store

WALNUT (CBS) — Police in Walnut are on the hunt for two people allegedly involved in a brazen purse snatching that was caught on tape.

Security cameras rolled as store owner Lupe Lopez helped who she thought were customers of the Candy Bouquet Monday afternoon.

"The man said 'I'm looking for a birthday bouquet,'" Lopez told Rachel Kim, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9.

As she showed him a bouquet on the top shelf, she had her back turned to the woman the suspect came with.

Well that's when the woman walked into the workroom and allegedly walked out with Lopez's purse underneath her shirt.

At the time, Lopez didn't know what was going on so she continued with the transaction.

"While I was talking to him, the lady said, 'I'm gonna go get the money so we can pay you.' And then he said 'You know what, she's taking too long. Let me go check what's going on.'"

But the couple never returned.

Lopez immediately looked for her purse and realized what had happened.

"It makes you mad. I'm very upset because they took my life… my social security, my ID, my driver's license, my checkbooks, my credit cards, everything," she added.

Lopez and her husband started the business a couple of years ago after they both lost their jobs from the same company. The theft comes at a time when they are struggling to keep the shop afloat.

"I really wish they can catch them cause they're gonna do it again, I know they will," she said.

If you recognize the two in the photos featured in this story, you're asked to contact the Walnut Sheriff's Station at (626) 913-1715.