Atascadero police recover stolen purse with community’s help
Hong Kong visitor reunited with purse
– The Atascadero Police Department recently concluded a theft investigation led by Corporal Brett Calloway, resulting in the recovery of a stolen purse and the identification of the suspect, thanks to community assistance.
Late last month, a woman traveling from Hong Kong stopped for lunch at In-N-Out Burger in Atascadero. After leaving the restaurant, she realized she had forgotten her purse at the table. Upon returning to retrieve it, she found the purse was missing and had not been turned in to lost and found.
Corporal Calloway initiated the investigation and worked with the restaurant’s corporate security to obtain surveillance footage. The video revealed a suspect taking the purse and later discarding it in a trash compactor. With the cooperation of the restaurant’s staff, Corporal Calloway searched the trash compactor and recovered the purse. While a significant amount of money was missing, the victim’s credit cards and identification remained intact.
To identify the suspect, Corporal Calloway posted screenshots from the surveillance footage on the police department’s social media accounts. Multiple community members came forward with information, ultimately leading to the identification of the suspect. Police believe the social media post played a crucial role in prompting the suspect to contact the department and participate in an interview. During the investigation, the suspect confessed to the theft.
The victim has since returned to Hong Kong with her recovered belongings and expressed her gratitude by sending a thank-you letter to the Atascadero Police Department, along with a photo of her family and Corporal Calloway during the purse’s return.
The police department posted this story on its Facebook page:
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