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Sunday Alston, 47, sometimes will talk up her victims in order to distract them before she makes off with their valuables, Lt. Robert Bracken said.
She also "often wears different hats and scarfs while committing these offenses in an effort to disguise her appearance," he said.
Alston is wanted for six separate incidents in Clifton alone, Bracken said.
Over the past few months, Alston has victimized customers at grocery stores and other businesses -- including Michael's and Dollar Tree -- throughout North Jersey, he said.
"Her mode of operation is to locate a female who is in the process of shopping and who has a purse visible within their shopping cart," Bracken said. "While the victim is either a short distance away from the cart, or distracted while in process of selecting merchandise, Alston will reach into the shopper's purse and remove their wallet.
"Once in possession of the wallet, she will leave the establishment and almost immediately begin making purchases at other retail locations with the credit cards from the stolen wallets," the lieutenant said.
Anyone who sees Alston or knows where to find her is asked to call the Clifton Police Department Detective Bureau @ 973-470-5908 or the Clifton Police Communications Center @ 973-470-5911. Callers can remain anonymous.
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