Guard your wallets - UPPD investigates credit card thefts

Watch where you leave that wallet. There has been a rash of recent credit card thefts on campus over the past few weeks in which the thieves take credit cards but leave purses and wallets behind. The technique is successful because it may be hours or days before the victim notices the missing cards, making it nearly impossible for police to catch the crook. "These people are very, very sly of hand," University Police Chief Maureen Rush said. "Within seconds, they've whipped out your credit cards." There have been about 11 similar thefts in the past 2 1/2 weeks. Rush said University Police are currently working with Philadelphia Police to catch the pickpockets, who have also plagued Center City. UPPD officers can look through a mug shot book compiled by the PPD, enabling them to recognize possible pickpockets. The most recent theft occurred Monday at the Franklin Building at 3451 Walnut Street. A female University student reported that she left her purse unattended for a few minutes. She later discovered that her MAC card, Social Security card, $10 in cash and about $10 in subway tokens were missing. According to Detective Supervisor Frank DeMeo, this kind of theft is hardly a new trend. He said similar incidents occur at the start of every school year. "A lot of people need to become educated" on how to protect themselves from crime, DeMeo said. Not all of the recent thefts occurred when victims left items unattended. On August 31, a female student reported that her wallet was taken from her purse, which was hanging on the back of her chair in Houston Hall during CUPID. Taken were a credit card, a driver's license and $30 in cash. Pickpockets frequently remove items from purses hanging on chairs -- often in crowded restaurants or bars -- by bumping into victims, distracting them from the theft, Rush said. Rush advised students to wrap their purses or bags around their legs when sitting in a restaurant or bar. The thefts have been accompanied by three robberies that have occurred within the last two weeks just off campus. In one of the incidents, the suspect was wielding a gun. University Police are currently investigating the crimes in conjunction with the PPD.