HPD: Woman snatches purse in grocery store parking lot

Tamia Moss charged with credit card abuse

HOUSTON – A woman has been accused of stealing an 84-year-old woman's purse out of a car in a grocery store parking lot.

Houston police said a woman put her purse in the front seat of her car as she loaded groceries into it at the Food Town in the 7500 block of Airline on Sept. 3.

Detectives said Tamia Moss, 38, was sitting in the car next to the woman's car. The 84-year-old woman, Dorothy Wind, said she saw Moss open her door and bend down.

"An arm reaching in and then in ... knew OK, this is it, she wants my handbag," said Wind.

Wind said she tried to grab it back, but Moss got into her getaway car and sped away.

Food Town

Wind said she tried to chase the car on foot and yelled for help.

"My first thought, really, was I was going to get in front of her vehicle," said Wind. "Then I kind of thought, 'No, I better not. She may run over me! She probably would have."

Another person in the parking lot got a partial license plate number of the car, officials said.

Police said Moss used Wind's stolen credit cards at Dollar General, Walgreens and an ATM. Investigators said they were able to use surveillance video to track down Moss.

Wind said her credit cards weren't the only thing of value in her purse. She was carrying her husband's wedding band.

"I just lost him this year, so I hate to see the wedding band go away," Wind said.

Moss has been charged with credit card abuse. She has previous convictions on charges of credit card abuse, assault of a public servant, theft and driving with a suspended license.

Moss has not been arrested. She is also a suspect in 16 other purse snatching cases, police said.

Anyone with information regarding Moss' whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.