Purse theft suspects arrested

Detectives say they tracked a fraudulent credit card purchase to help catch a man and woman in action at one of their favorite haunts, Publix.

By CHRIS TISCH
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 13, 2002

LARGO -- Detectives have arrested a pair suspected in a recent string of purse snatchings stretching from St. Petersburg to Palm Harbor.

Detectives had been tailing the pair for a week when, investigator say, they saw the pair snatch a purse from a woman's cart at a Largo Publix on Tuesday afternoon. Detectives sprang after them and caught them after a short chase on foot.

Fredrick E. Frazier, 34, and Kristal J. Miller, 30, were each charged with multiple counts of robbery and a single count of grand theft. Miller also was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card.

Investigators said they believe the pair began the string May 15, then committed about 10 more snatchings until they were caught. They would walk or drive past shoppers whose purses were in their carts, grab the purses and take off, said Pinellas sheriff's spokesman Cal Dennie.

Their hot spots were Publix and Target, Dennie said.

No one was seriously injured during the streak, though one woman in Palm Harbor was hit in the head during one purse snatching. Another in St. Petersburg was struck by the pair's getaway vehicle.

Miller used one of the victims' credit cards to buy a video game system and games at a St. Petersburg Kmart, an arrest report states. Detectives reviewed a surveillance tape of the business, which showed Miller making the $320.94 purchase, reports state.

That, and other investigative work, led detectives to Miller and Frazier.

They began surveillance on the pair last week. Detectives saw the two cover their alleged getaway car, a red 1992 Plymouth Sundance, with green paint Saturday, Dennie said.

After a week of surveillance, patience paid off for detectives, who saw the pair snare a purse from a 72-year-old woman's shopping cart at the Publix at 875 West Bay Drive, Dennie said.

After detectives apprehended the pair, they went to the store and told the woman her purse had been taken.

"The lady didn't even know it was gone," Dennie said.

Frazier, whose nickname is Triggerman, was being held at the Pinellas County jail on Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bail. Miller was also being held at the jail in lieu of $65,000 bail.

Both admitted to the offenses, arrest reports state.

-- Chris Tisch can be reached at 445-4156 or tisch@sptimes.com.

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