Thief strikes inside Montgomery Co. courthouse

Teeming with police officers waiting to testify in court, the second floor of the Montgomery County District Courthouse in Rockville perhaps isn't the best place to steal something.

But a woman recently made that bold move, and police on Wednesday released surveillance photographs of a suspect.

"It was certainly a healthy disregard for the law," said Cpl. Dan Friz, a police spokesman.

The photos, according to police, show a woman casually shopping after nabbing a wallet from inside the Commissioner's Office in the courthouse. Citizens and police officers also go into the office to file charges against people.

The suspect. (Montgomery Police)

Police say the suspect entered the office about 1:06 p.m., Feb. 25.

By 1:18 p.m, she used a credit card from the stolen wallet to make a $300 purchase at a nearby Best Buy, in the 1200 block of Rockville Pike, police said. Then she made another purchase at the Best Buy, and bought items at a nearby Giant food store, police said.

Officials described the suspect as a black woman, 30-38 years old, 5'8" tall, with short-cropped black hair. The suspect was wearing black pants, a green shirt, a blue or green lanyard with a white card on it, and a black jacket or sweater.

Police ask anyone who may have information about the incident or suspect to call 240-773-6084 or 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

-- Dan Morse