Hampton Police looking for woman they say has stolen thousands in checks

HAMPTON, Ga. — Hampton police are hoping surveillance pictures will help them identify a woman who they said has cashed thousands of dollars' worth of forged checks stolen from a single victim.

Detective Art Sparks showed Channel 2's Tony Thomas surveillance video of the woman going into businesses in Griffin just 13 minutes after Melanie Doyal's purse was stolen outside of a Hampton day care facility.

"I was less than five minutes dropping my daughter off, and it was just gone," Doyal said.

Police said the thief used a credit card at three businesses in Griffin, then began cashing forged checks at banks in Atlanta.

Doyal showed Thomas several copies of the checks that have been written on her account.

The amounts range from $149 to more than $1,800, and Doyal is worried there are still more checks out there that have yet to come in.

On the memo line of one check, the words "sister-in-law" are written. On another, it says, "Final payment -- boat. The total amount."

"She is very sure of herself in the stores. There is never any hesitation," Sparks said.

Sparks said the woman drives a red Nissan Altima and is always seen with an African-American man who never gets out of the car.

Hampton police said one thing that's unusual about the woman is how calm and professional she acts, and she changes her appearance very quickly.

"She's very sure about herself. She will wear her hair up one time, down the other. Sometimes she will wear a jacket. She will carry a large purse," Sparks said.

Sparks said he's sure the unidentified woman has done this before, and he wants to find her before more people are hurt like Doyal has been.

"Part of me wishes they'd stole my car, because it would be easier to find someone driving an orange Dodge than someone just taking a little black purse," Doyal said.

Detectives believe the woman is likely staying at a hotel near the interstate in Clayton County or along Highway 19/41.

Police said the car she has been seen in has North Carolina tags.