PEARLAND, Texas – Police are searching for suspects after a string of thefts at a Pearland gas station.
There have been three car burglaries at the Kroger gas station on FM 518 and Cullen Boulevard within the past week. Two more occurred last month, police said.
All of them happened in broad daylight.
"This is very serious," said Lt. Onesimo Lopez, adding the thieves appeared to be focusing on credit cards. "They’re taking the cards to nearby businesses and spending thousands of dollars."
A woman named Shauna – who asked to have her last name omitted – said she became the latest victim when she stopped to pump gas around 12 p.m. Saturday.
"It was scary because my daughter was in the backseat," she said. "Then I realized everything I have is in my wallet and it’s gone."
Shauna said the ordeal took less than five seconds. She placed her wallet in the passenger seat and when she went to replace the gas pump, someone opened her passenger door, took the wallet and drove away.
Kroger spokesperson Rebecca King said multiple images captured on the stores surveillance cameras were sent to local authorities.
Police said on Monday the suspects were using different vehicles to commit the thefts. In each of the cases, there appeared to be at least two suspects inside the car.
King said Kroger was working with local law enforcement to prevent future thefts and urged customers to be vigilant.
