Shawnee Police On The Lookout For Car Burglars

Police are looking for a couple of car burglars who broke into a parked car in the middle of the day.

According to the surveillance video, the theft took only a couple of seconds but Bethany McWilliams said it has cost her a lot of time and money.

"It’s really been an inconvenience and something that nobody deserves," said McWilliams, who discovered her passenger side window missing on July 13.

Investigators say the suspects drove around the parking lot of the Shawnee Little Theater a few times around 9 a.m. and finally pulled up next to McWilliams' car.

The video shows a woman get out of a silver car, possibly a Mitsubishi Eclipse, and approach McWilliams car.

The suspect smashed out the window and grabbed a purse sitting in the front seat.

"I'm guessing that's why they only targeted my car because no one else had a purse in visible sight, and that was just a flop on my end," McWilliams said.

She was frustrated with herself for leaving her purse before she found out it cost her thousands of dollars.

Investigators say the suspects used McWilliams' credit cards at several stores in Shawnee including Lowes, Staples, Walmart.

"Within an hour of the theft occurring, they went to those places and used the cards before they could be cancelled," Shawnee Detective Jason Crouch said.

In surveillance video from Walmart, one of the suspects purchased personal goods, household items, and prepaid gift cards with the stolen credit cards and then walked out of the front door undetected.

Still,  McWilliams is hopeful the suspects' shopping spree will catch up with them.

"I would like to see them brought to justice for sure I don’t want to see it happen to anyone else," McWilliams said.

If you recognize either of the suspects you are asked to call Shawnee Police (405) 273-2121.