Thousands of dollars in campaign funds were stolen off an International District street Wednesday night after a campaign worker dropped a bag of cash and checks while chasing after a purse snatcher. Now SPD detectives are asking for the public’s help in tracking down the suspects in the two separate thefts.
Around 9:45 PM on Wednesday, a group of witnesses standing near 6th Avenue and South Weller Street heard a woman shouting that someone had stolen her purse. As the suspect rushed past them, one of the witnesses set down his own bag and chased after him. The thief got away, and when the witness returned to retrieve his own bag–which contained more than $3,000 in cash and checks for a state legislator’s reelection campaign–he discovered someone had stolen it right off the sidewalk.
Officers arrived at the scene, but were unable to locate any suspects. However, the entire incident was captured on surveillance camera, and detectives are now trying to identify the purse snatcher, as well as the suspect who stole the helpful bystander’s bag.
If you recognize either suspect, or have any other information about this case, please call SPD West Precinct detectives at (206) 684-5728.