Crystal Parkinson wants to warn others after the Turner Valley senior had her wallet, which contained $2,000 in cash, stolen while shopping at FreshCo in Okotoks last weekend.
The 83-year-old decided to check out the new grocery store on Jan. 27 around 5 p.m. but when she was distracted while bagging her purchases, her wallet was taken.
The thief immediately went to Walmart where they racked up $2,000 on one credit card, although they were unable to use the other one. They also filled up their vehicle using a stolen credit card at the adjacent Canadian Tire gas station.
“The money wasn't enough for them, they had to use my cards too,” said Parkinson, who reached out to the Wheel to share her story in the hopes that others don’t fall victim.
She feels because she’s handicapped and has trouble walking, she was targeted.
“I’m sure they followed me around the store first. I'm handicapped, right, so I don't walk, I waddle. I was a good target,” she said.
Parkinson said a kid was acting up at the till, so when she turned her head to see what it was all about, her wallet was stolen.
“I just want to warn innocent people that someone out there, whoever it is, is very smart because they grabbed my wallet and went straight to Walmart and bought stuff,” she said. “So, they're not dummies about it, you know what I mean? I just don't want some other old lady getting what I got. You don't think about someone stealing from you, especially right at the till.”
Parkinson said she won’t be responsible for the credit card charges, but is out the $2,000 in cash, which she had in her wallet to pay bills.
“I walked out of that store with 25 cents because that's what you have to pay for a shopping cart,” she said.