Fresno purse thief needs only seconds to break into locked cars

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Beware of a thief in Fresno who strikes quickly when victims leave their purses on the front seat of the car.

FOX26 News has surveillance video of the crook in action who needs only seconds to turn a victim's life upside down.

In early April Janice Salas stopped by the Sinclair station at Fresno and Dakota to put gas in her daughter's car. She left her purse on the front seat and went inside to pay

The thief needed less than 20 seconds to break the window, grab the purse and drive off.

"I just have a funny feeling I'm gonna see him in court. I really do and I hope he pays the price for what he's done. Can you imagine all the people he's still stealing from instead of getting a job?"

This isn't the first time he's been caught on a surveillance camera breaking into a car. That's the same guy smashing a car window and stealing a purse last week at Most Wanted Tattoo on the 2900 block of North Blackstone.

It's the same thief driving a green Ford SUV breaking into a car at the Valera station at First and Barstow on May 10th.

"He started using my card right away. I started getting a lot of notifications from the bank and he took more than $800 almost a thousand and a lot of $35 overdraft fees," said Salas.

Salas filed a police report, then she had to make visits to the DMV and Social Security. It's a costly mistake she vows never to make again.

"It's a lesson now that I'll never leave my purse on the seat. I'll take it with me. I have a long strap purse, another one."

It's a reminder to anyone who leaves valuable on the front seat that it takes only seconds to become the next crime victim.

If you have any information on the three break-ins you are encouraged to contact Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.