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Suspect Accused in Distraction Theft Arrested, Another Wanted: BSO

One half of an alleged distraction-theft team was arrested Monday and will be extradited from Alachua County to Broward County.

Albert Robinson, 55, will face charges of grand theft and identity theft, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

In late February, BSO said Robinson and his unidentified partner used a distraction technique to steal from an elderly woman in Cooper City. Robinson, who can be seen on surveillance video, lifted a wallet from the purse of the woman as his partner distracted her.

BSO said the crime occurred on Feb. 28 when the suspects entered the Publix Super Market at 10018 Griffin Road in Cooper City and pretended to shop for gift cards.

Video shows the pair as they zero in on a 92-year-old female victim. One suspect approached the customer and asked her a question. That's when Robinson approached the woman's cart, unzipped her purse and swiped her wallet. BSO said the thieves got away with $40, credit cards and the victim's driver's license.

Later that same day, the duo was caught on video at a Best Buy in Pembroke Pines. BSO said they used the victim's credit card to purchase an Xbox One and two Dell Inspiron computers for a total of roughly $1,500.

The unidentified man had on a striped short-sleeve shirt, jeans and glasses. At the Publix, the duo was seen leaving in an unidentified sedan that has a sunroof.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

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