Caught on camera: Purse theft from restaurant front desk
PORTLAND, Ore. – When Laquesha Stockwell couldn’t find her purse, everyone at the Francis Xavier restaurant in Northeast Portland thought it was another employee prank.
She looked at the surveillance video to catch the prankster in the act, but she couldn’t believe what she found.
“I honestly thought I was going to faint. I didn’t know what to do,” said Stockwell.
A woman with a large yellow purse is seen on video walking by the front desk several times before grabbing Stockwell’s purse behind the counter.
“Who would do that? Especially during the holidays,” Stockwell said. “It’s so heartless.”
Stockwell said she filed a police report, but she’s hoping someone turns the thief in before she steals again.
“It’s not just the purse, it’s the fact that my social and my ID and my credit cards were in there,” she said. “You see identity theft on the news and that’s horrible. I don’t want that to happen to me.”
KATU News heard about this story from news tip. If you have a story for us, send an email to newstips@katu.com
was this lady applying for a job at this resturant?
what day did this purse theft happen?
It never ceases to amaze me as to how much personal info is stashed in purses and then left lying around. This includes women who leave purses unattended in shopping carts at the supermarket. Unattended, even for a moment is one moment too many. Why do they do this? And why is it so important to carry around their entire life history in them? Â
This little purse snatcher isn't nearly as smart as she thinks she is . . . doesn't she know places like this have cameras?
This bag was stuff way back in the cubby under the desk so I am thinking that this thief somehow *knew* to look for it there either because she has been casing when the hostess took it out during a break or someone told her that  the hostess keeps her purse down under there in the back of the cubby shelf.
 @whirledworld yes she surely knew to look there.  all the waitresses at most places keep their purses stashed behind the counter.  My husband had to get his staff to stop doing that as people were jumping over their counter and running off with them.  Everyone who's been in the business knows the staff does that and you're right, it doesn't take crooks long to watch & see.Â
 @beesknees Hmmm every place I ever worked at had lockers for our purses/jackets and uniforms if we had them. Never heard of this "stash behind the counter" thing.
Okay, I'm sorry, I don't understand one thing . . . .
âYou see identity theft on the news and thatâs horrible. I donât want that to happen to me.â
Then, why would you leave all of your precious ID items in your purse, let alone leave your purse at the desk?! Your employer ought to provide a secure location for personal items (not that they *do*, mind you . . . but they *ought* to!).
I hope she called social security and had her card flagged.
Never carry you SS card with you.
@Jamie I disagree. As a gambler if I hit a jackpot the first things they ask you for are your ID and Social Security card. If you don't have it you don't get paid. And I'll be **** if I'm going to give up a jackpot!!!
 @JLO  Why on EARTH does a gambling joint ask for your SS card? Just to make sure you are "legal"?  The real issue is that this girl had her SS card, in her purse, tucked under the hostess counter and not in a locked cabinet for all to see. She's pretty young to be a gambler, but she gambled and lost her purse by not having it in a more secured area.
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The restaurant manager, the one who played a hoax before, needs to make sure his employees have a safe and secure area for their personal belongings while at work. This could come back to bite him on an insurance claim.
@washcomom They need it for tax purposes. When a W2 G is filled out they need your SS #. I for one am not afraid to show my card.
 @washcomom  @JLO I agree. The sanctity and security of my identity is worth far more than any jackpot I might win.
I hope someone knows her and turns her in! Â
Wow... that's cold, for sure... but we're going to be seeing more and more of this kind of thing, I'm afraid... unless we figure out how to fight back.. and the first step is prevention... Â One thing for sure: if you work in a place that is frequented by the public (eg: retail store, restaurant, a public office), purses, coats, any valuable items belonging to employees should NOT be kept in any area to which the public has access. Â
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Oh yeah, and unless you need it right then, DON'T carry your Social Security card around with you..!
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That's a pretty good video-cam picture of the thief in this case, though... I'll bet somebody will recognize her... and hopefully, they'll turn her in..! Â Â
 @margay1 employers should provide locking lockers for their workers everywhere
 @margay1 Let's all say it together...Social Security cards need to be kept in a safe place, like a home safe.Â