Investigators hope someone knows the whereabouts of the trio accused of pickpocketing woman in posh city neighborhoods in recent weeks.
On Thursday morning, Philadelphia Police released photos of James Black, Renza Sheaff and Timothy Mosley. According to investigators, the trio are responsible for a recent string of thefts in the Logan Circle, Rittenhouse Square and Washington Circle neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Blake, who hails from N 59th Street in West Philadelphia, is known to operate a 1990 Cadillac Deville two-door coupe, according to investigators.
Sheaff, a.k.a. Tina Hainey or Robin Davis, is attached to various previous addresses in the city, police said.
Mosley has various addresses including homes in Sharon Hill, Pa. and West Philadelphia, according to police.
Anyone who knows where any of the suspects could be is asked to contact Philly Police.
Police say the trio of alleged pickpockets are the ones captured on surveillance video stealing from a woman as she ate at a Center City restaurant. That woman spoke out yesterday in hopes that the lessons she learned can help other potential victims.
Amanda D'Amico, 32, was eating inside the Rice & Mix Restaurant on the 1200 block of Walnut Street back on Jan. 10. As she was eating, police say two men and a woman entered the restaurant around 8:45 p.m. The woman and one of the men distracted a clerk while the other man walked towards D'Amico.
(PHOTO from left to right: James Black, Renza Sheaff and Timothy Mosley)
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Surveillance video shows the man sitting directly behind D'Amico as she ate, placing his jacket over her purse which was hanging on the back of her chair, and stealing her wallet. Police say the man then walked over to the other two suspects and had a brief conversation before all three fled the scene in an unknown direction.
"It was jarring that it was captured on film and I could watch it over and over again," D'Amico told NBC10 on Wednesday. "I really didn't have any clue that he was there or as close as he was."
D'Amico says she was unaware of the theft until she returned to the restaurant in search of her wallet and restaurant workers showed her the surveillance video.
"It was really upsetting," D'Amico said. "I felt violated. That was upsetting that it took him awhile to do it and I still didn't notice."
Police say the trio used the same method during a theft at the Metropolitan Diner on South 19th and Spruce Streets on Sept. 20. Surveillance video shows the woman taking a wallet from a pocketbook. About an hour after that theft, the woman and two men, who allegedly served as lookouts, were spotted at a South Philly Home Depot store buying $15,000 in gift cards with the victim's stolen credit card, according to investigators.
Law enforcement sources also say the trio may be connected to other crimes, possibly as far as Wilmington, Del.
“Your pocketbook, your belongings, you should always keep it in front of you,” said Philadelphia Police Lt. Patrick Doherty. “If you can’t see your belongings or your handbag you’re at risk of becoming a victim of this type of crime.”
D'Amico says her experience should serve as a warning to others to be aware of their surroundings.
"The things I'm going to do different now are make sure my bag has a zipper and carry a smaller wallet so that it's not so easy to pick out my bag," she said.
