COOPER CITY, Fla. (WSVN) — An elderly woman became the victim of an age-old distraction tactic when, she said, two men stole her wallet at a Cooper City Publix, but thanks to her description of the suspects, one of them was put behind bars.
Ninety-two-year-old Betty Swanson can now joke about the Feb. 28 incident. "If I would have seen him, I would have hit him with my cane," she said.
Swanson is relieved 55-year-old Albert Robinson, the man deputies said reached into her purse, is locked up.
Surveillance cameras at the supermarket, located at 10018 Griffin Road, showed the other suspect trying to capture Swanson’s attention. "The man came up, and he had a box of some kind of medicine, and he said, ‘Is this good for headaches?’" she said.
That is when, Swanson said, Robinson made his move, taking her cash and credit cards. "At that time, the other one unzipped my purse and took everything and left," she said.
Investigators said the suspects were later caught on surveillance video purchasing an Xbox and two computers at a Best Buy.
More than a month later, thanks in part to Swanson’s account of the incident, Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives tracked down Robinson near Gainesville and took him into custody. They allege he was the person who snatched Swanson’s wallet.
"He should be out getting a job instead of robbing elderly people who live on a pension or something else," said Swanson.
Swanson, who worked until she was 90, said what these men did to her makes her sick. "I think he ought to go to jail and work as hard as he can there. Picking up weeds or rocks or something to teach him that life is hard," she said.
Robinson is expected to face additional charges in connection with other theft crimes in Alachua and Broward counties. Eventually, he will be extradited to Broward to face a judge for Swanson’s case.
Now, Swanson’s feisty and on alert, ready to use her cane, but only if she has to. "If not hit him, if you take it and pull it out, at least they are on the ground, and I wouldn’t let them up," she said.
She reminded everyone to be on the lookout. "To make the public realize you have to really watch out, because there are so many crooks out there trying to take stuff instead of working for it," she said.
The second suspect in the Publix incident remains at large. If you have any information on his whereabouts, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.