Local

Police ID suspect who followed, stole from 91-year-old woman

Jan. 24, 2019 Update: Renton police have identified the suspect who they say stole a 91-year-old woman's wallet from her shopping basket last month.

Police said the man also stole a wallet from a victim in her 70s at the Safeway on Northeast Fourth Street.

Investigators are still searching for Jeffrey S. Gouveia, who is described as white, in his 60s, with a distinctive tattoo on his right hand.

Anyone with information or the whereabouts of Gouveia is asked to call Renton police at 425-430-7500 or email Detective Coleman at mcoleman@rentonwa.gov and reference case 115647 and case 18-13793.

UPDATE SUSPECT IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS REQUEST TO ID -THANK YOU. Recognize this purse thief? In December, a male suspect...

Posted by Renton Police Department, WA on Thursday, January 24, 2019

On Jan. 17, Puyallup police said they were searching for a suspect who they say was caught stealing an 80-year-old woman's wallet at a Walmart.  On Thursday night, Puyallup police said it was the same suspect in the Renton thefts.

Our previous coverage below: 

Renton police are looking for a man they say followed a 91-year-old woman, waiting to steal her wallet form her shopping basket.

Detectives believe the same suspect is targeting victims in neighboring counties, too. So far, they have tied the suspect to 4 cases all reported in December.

The incident involving the 91-year-old happened about 5 p.m. Dec. 18 at a Renton Safeway, in the 200 block of South Third Street.

“As the woman reached into a dairy cooler the suspect sneaked in and stole her wallet from the basket,” police wrote on Facebook. “He then proceeded to use her checkbook to write checks.”

The suspect is a white man in his late 40s, 50s or 60s and has a distinctive tattoo on the top of his right hand, police said. He had no facial hair, wore a black jacket, black pants and a blue shirt.

Renton police say this man is a predator intentionally going after vulnerable people and they want him off the street.

Police are asking that anyone who can identify the man call Detective Coleman at 425-430-7538 or email him at mcoleman@rentonwa.gov and reference case No. 8-15647.

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP