Pickpockets targeting elderly women at Irving Park grocery store: cops

Pickpockets are targeting elderly women at a grocery store in the North Side Irving Park neighborhood.

The robberies both happened in the 3500 block of North Elston, the first about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 and the second about 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 29, according to a community alert from Area North detectives.

During both incidents, an elderly woman was shopping at a grocery store when one person caused a diversion and another stole a wallet or change purse from the woman’s purse, police said.

After both robberies, the suspects drove away in a light blue minivan, police said. They then use the woman’s credit and debit cards to make purchases at a nearby department store.

One of the suspects is described as a black man between 40 and 50 years old, 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, with a shaved or bald head and wearing a black coat, a dark-colored sweater and jeans.

The other suspect is described a black man, also between 40 and 50 years old, 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9, with a light mustache and a goatee. He has been seen wearing a tan jacket and jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (312) 744-8263.