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Cops: Queens Woman Targeting Purses Left In Shopping Carts

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a woman who they say is wanted for a series of robberies in Staten Island and Queens.

Rehana Hussain, 43, has struck at least eight times since January, police said. In nearly every case, she removes cash, credit cards or other property from victims' wallets or purses while they're shopping or distracted, police said.

The first incident happened at a Century 21 on Jan. 20. Police said Hussain took someone's wallet while they were waiting in line at the cashier. The victim's credit cards were later used without authorization, police said.

Later that same day, Hussain took property from a victim's purse at the Shine Beauty Salon on  Steinway Street and later used the victim's credit cards, police said.

In February, police said she stole from victims twice at a Costco on Richmond Avenue. Both times, the victims reported items stolen from their purses.

That same month, she struck a DSW and two Marshalls stores, police said. Again, the victims had items stolen after they left their purses unattended in a shopping cart, police said.

Hussain last known address is 143-48 41st Avenue in Queens.

Anyone with information on where she might be should call police or Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

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