× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

CHESTERTON — Police are seeking a man believed responsible for pickpocketing a wallet from a 92-year-old World War II veteran at the local Jewel-Osco store and then using one of the stolen credit cards shortly after at a Walmart store.

The elderly man told Chesterton police he was grocery shopping shortly before noon on Oct. 2 when a man sneezed next to him and then said, "Oops, hope I didn't get any (snot) on you" before brushing the elderly man's leg with his hand.

It was during that encounter that police believe the man stole the wallet, but the alleged victim did not notice it missing until he went to pay for his items, police said.

A store employee bought the elderly man's items and police learned the elderly man had $40 in his wallet, as well as credit and identification cards.

Police viewed store video footage that revealed the middle-age black suspect, who wore black pants, white shirt, black jacket and a white baseball cap with the word "Irish" in green lettering, according to the incident report. The suspect is seen leaving the store and then walking north across the parking lot until he was out of view of the camera.