UC Irvine Thief Could Be the Freshest Asian Thief of All Time

University of California Irvine police are on the hunt for a fresh-looking Asian man who is suspected of robbing people of their wallets and purses from the campus’ Langson Library.

The suspect reportedly used credit cards from the stolen belongings to make a number of purchases at local stores.

“It’s believed that he’s been targeting the library, where there’s a large group of students who often leave their materials behind at desks to go to bookshelves,” UCI spokesperson Tom Vasich told KTLA.

Surveillance footage indicates the suspect is a “clean-shaven Asian man in his 20s, with black hair parted on one side and a thin build” and “wearing slightly tinted eyeglasses,” the UC Irvine Police Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

Police have encouraged students or anyone else with more information on the suspect to call Det. Sgt. Charles Chon or Det. Roland Chiu at (949) 824-5223.

The Los Angeles Times added that callers who want their identity to be kept anonymous should contact OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS, text “OCCS” including their tip to 274637, or visit occrimestoppers.org.

A similar incident occurred in May 2016, when police said they arrested a 25-year-old Irvine man who was suspected of being responsible for back-to-back robberies of a student at UCI and a driver near the school.

Watch KTLA’s report on the campus thefts below:

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