Sneaky thieves snatch purse right under woman's nose

purse snatcher belltownSEATTLE -- Surveillance video shows a sneaky thief stealing a woman's purse at a Belltown restaurant as she chats with her companion.

The victim requested to remain unidentified, but she wants to share a valuable lesson that you should always be aware of your surroundings.

Surveillance cameras at Ohana Restaurant in Belltown on Tuesday captured a man and two women walking in. The three then get comfortable sitting adjacent to the victim at the bar.

“I was deep in conversation with the person that I was with,” the victim said, which made for the perfect opportunity to grab her bag. “He goes and puts the piece of paper in front of my purse blocking the view of it.”

The thief manages to whisk away the purse just inches away from the owner.

“Both of us were unaware,” the woman said.

But the thief didn't take off running. First, he puts the stolen purse in another bag and then slowly makes his way to the door and even hangs out for a few seconds behind the victim.

“He's obviously done this before,” she said.

The two women leave the scene separately and by the time the victim realized what had happened, it was too late.

“They went to a Ross, they went to a McDonald's, they went to a mini mart, they made a payment to T-mobile,” she said.

A few hours later, she was shocked to see the suspects walking around downtown Seattle.

“I saw the two girls -- one of them was wearing my purse -- walking down the street.”

But the thieves got away again and with them went her passport, driver's license, laptop and a flash drive of personal photos.

“Some of that sensitive material, critical personal items, I know I won’t get back.”

Her priority isn't about finding her purse, but catching the three suspects before they strike again.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects is asked to contact Seattle police.