Sparks police arrested a man that admitted to targeting and stealing from elderly women on Saturday. 20 year old Mathew Preston Hunter was arrested at around 6:15 PM on September 15 in the area of Sullivan Ln. and Oddie Blvd after a residential burglary and robbery was reported in the area.

Hunter’s car matched the description of a vehicle associated to multiple burglaries between August 31st and September 15th in Sparks. Upon approaching Hunter, officers were able to identify numerous items that were reported stolen. It was also discovered that Hunter had sold several items of stolen property at a local pawn shop less than thirty minutes after he had burglarized and robbed an elderly female.

According to Sparks police, Hunter admitted to intentionally targeting elderly women at local grocery stores, mostly those parked in handicapped spaces.  He admitted to watching them exit the stores and, as they loaded their groceries into their vehicles, would take their purse from their shopping cart or directly out of their vehicle.

The most recent case saw Hunter follow a victim home from a grocery store. He waited until she had taken all of her groceries into her apartment then entered through an unlocked window.  As the victim slept, he took numerous items from the apartment and attempted to forcibly remove a necklace and ring that she was wearing.

Hunter was booked on many charges including robbery, burglary, fraudulent use of a credit card, and possession of stolen property. The victims in these cases were between 71 and 91 years of age.