For one Walmart shopper it is a lesson learned. For others, it is a cautionary tale.

A female shopper at Turlock's Walmart placed her purse in her shopping cart and briefly turned away to grab a bag of dog food. While her attention was diverted, an unknown person(s) stole her purse. The victim's credit cards were later fraudulently used.

On Wednesday, following the incident, the Turlock Police Department issued a statement warning against purse snatching, advising the public to keep tabs on their belongings when in public places.

In the statement the police warn, “although these types of thefts are not occurring at an alarming rate, they are happening in our city. Please safeguard your purse by keeping it with you at all times. These types of thefts are considered 'crimes of opportunity.' If we eliminate the opportunity, we decrease the chances of (becoming) victims.”

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Ofc. Mike Simbalenko at 668-5550 ext. 6723.