Police in Dalton are asking for help to identify a woman they say took another woman's purse from a restaurant and then turned it in, emptied of $800 and a debit card, at a Family Dollar store, claiming it had been left behind.
The Feb. 25 incident began at the Hardee's restaurant on Cleveland Highway when the victim, who was eating with friends, moved to another table, according to police. She returned to get her purse, and it was gone. Other customers told her a woman had taken it, and she called police.
In a news release, police said the victim then took a phone call from her son while she was talking to officers, and he said employees at the Family Dollar store on East Morris Street had her purse. Those workers told officers a woman turned in the purse, saying she had found it in a shopping cart in the parking lot.
The victim checked her bag and determined $800 in cash and a bank debit card were missing.
Surveillance tapes from both locations showed the same woman, police investigators said.
If you know the woman shown or the identity of the man wearing the private security uniform who was with her at the Hardee's, call Detective Brandon Carter at 706-278-9085, extension 183.