Mall Alert: Out-Of-State Thieves Shopping for Your Belongings.

A birthday celebration was what brought Jocelyn Hsu to Seasons 52 at Tysons Corner Mall on Dec. 2.

Her friend had recently celebrated a birthday and Hsu wanted to treat her; the pair chose a small table in the crowded restaurant, where Hsu sat down with her back to the busy lobby, slinging her large purse over the edge of the chair just inches away from her arm.

But later, when the Vienna resident grabbed her purse and went to pay, her wallet was nowhere to be found.

For the next 20 minutes, she retraced her steps — out to the parking lot, to her car, even driving back to her office in Reston, but the wallet wasn't at her desk either.

She called the credit card company and a growing suspicion her wallet had been stolen was confirmed: In the time it took for Hsu to search, drive and call, about $10,000 had been charged fraudulently among three of her credit cards, all at stores in the greater Tysons area.

"It didn’t even cross my mind that it had been taken from my purse," Hsu said. "My friend was looking directly at me when we were eating."

It's a scenario not uncommon around the holidays, Fairfax County Police Department spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said. She said it's why the Fairfax County Police Retail Anti-Theft Teams (RATT), formed each year in an attempt to prevent holiday crime, are patrolling malls and shopping centers including Tysons, in uniform and in plain clothes to try to catch thieves like the one who stole Hsu's wallet.

Caldwell said the department has arrested more out-of-state residents in theft or fraud crimes this season than Virginia residents, likely an indication thieves are working in larger, multi-state rings to steal big-ticket items.

Several of the items charged to Hsu's credit cards fit that bill, she said. The conversation with her credit card company revealed a $2,400 charge at the Apple Store, $1,400 at Nordstrom's and other large purchases at the Microsoft Store and nearby Best Buy.

Last year, in the McLean Police District, which includes Tysons Corner, $196,386 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered by RATT officers. They charged a total of 115 people with 152 offenses for that merchandise, the department said in a recent release. In Fair Oaks, which includes the Fair Oaks Mall, 41 adults and 23 juveniles were charged with 182 felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Officers are targeting all shoplifters, Caldwell said, but have a focus on  “professionals” adept at distracting store employees while partners hide or steal merchandise from the other side of store.

It was likely one of those "professionals" that targeted Hsu and her wallet. Hsu said she's typically very careful in guarding her valuables, holding her bag close to her body while walking and taking it with her when she enters a bathroom stall. While her bag was secure during dinner, she said, it was also very large, which, in retrospect, she said would make it easy for a thief to reach in without disturbing her. She said she recalls at least one large group that passed behind their table; a swift pickpocket could have easily hidden within it.

"Because restaurants in malls are more crowded during the holiday season, because malls themselves tend to be more crowded, thieves take advantage of that," Caldwell said. "People are there spending money, enjoying themselves. The thieves realize that and they are going to look for that. They're looking for distracted people to take advantage of ... if you're busy eating or engaged in conversation that's an opportunity."

Hsu says the charges to her credit card could have been much worse, but also would've likely been much less if she had reported it missing sooner. She hopes her story will help others avoid the same situation, especially those who think they're doing everything to prevent it.

"It's just so disheartening," Hsu said. "It’s a [good reminder to be more careful] when you see somebody will actually be so bold as to go into your purse and take your wallet while you're sitting there."

5 Shopping Tips from 2nd Lt. Tony Matos, head of the RATT detail at Tysons Corner.*

1. Be aware of your surroundings.

"We want people to shop and enjoy themselves in our malls but we have to realize that there are people who want to take advantage of our citizens," he said. Take your purse into the dressing rooms with you.

2. If it doesn't feel right, act on it.

Matos said women really do have a "sixth sense" when something isn't right. If someone is standing too close to you, if someone seems to be standing around, step away.

3. Take only what you really need to the mall.

That means only the credit card you're going to use. No purse. No Social Security card. No passport. No citizenship papers.

4. Limit items you are carrying.

Don't walk around with your hands full. You have lost the ability to defend yourself.

5. Check your credit cards purchases daily and your credit report online.

5.1. Shop during the day when malls are less crowded.

*Matos leads a special team of 11 police officers and two supervisors who work in plain clothes for five weeks at the nation's sixth largest shopping center.