They hunted down older women from out of state, followed them into the bathrooms of I-95 rest stops and then lifted their credit cards from their purses. In many cases, police said, the victims had no idea they'd been robbed until they had resumed their trip (read more details on the "Bathroom Bandits" from state police).
By that time, police said the suspects arrested this week had gone on spending sprees, buying thousands of dollars of gift cards, two mink coats, lingerie, gasoline, video games and even a $2.76 coffee drink. Some of the credit cards are shown above in a photo from Maryland State Police.
Maryland State Police said they arrested two women and charged them with multiple counts of theft and credit card fraud. The authorities said the suspects pretended to be rest stop workers, guided the victims into bathroom stalls and then distracted them so that another woman in an adjacent stall could steal from their purses.
Arrested were Ishia Biff Cason (seen in the photo), 31, of the 1700 block of Carswell St., and Yvette Andrea Jones, 46, of the 2900 block of Falstaff Road. Each has been charged with multiple counts of theft, credit card fraud and identity theft.
The victims are from the Maryland House in Harford County, but police said they believe the suspects also hit victims at the Chesapeake House in Cecil County and rest stops in New Jersey.
In all, police said the suspects purchased more than $16,000 in merchandise from cards stolen from the three women between December and February.
Police are urging anyone else victimized in this scheme to contact them.
From today's story: