Mother and children targeted outside a Fresno Walmart

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police say it was a stunning robbery in which the suspect targeted the most vulnerable victim, a mother with two young children.

The robbery happened at the Walmart in Southeast Fresno on Kings Canyon at about five o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

Police say the suspect cased the store looking for someone who wouldn't fight back or couldn't. He picked a mom, with two kids. And the best witness was a picture perfect surveillance camera.

The suspect is standing in front of the Walmart on Kings Canyon for several minutes, until an unsuspecting mother gets close to walking into the store, with her two year old and four month old in the basket. Suddenly, the suspect snatches her diaper bag in broad daylight.

Mark Hudson with the Fresno Police Department said, "A suspect who was outside and is seen on video surveillance kind of looking for a victim to steal a purse from, he attacks her as she is pushing her children into the Walmart and steals her diaper bag, rips it off of her shoulder. Actually rips off the straps that she was holding onto."

As soon as the startled and screaming mother chases after the suspect, her two year old little girl stands up in the basket and that's when the mom races back.

Police say another citizen who saw the attack chased after the suspect too as he ran through the parking lot and jumped a brick wall. Within an hour, before police were called and credit cards were cancelled, the suspect went on a swiping spree.

"The suspect has since used some of her credit cards at several locations," said Hudson. "We're still investigating those locations to where those have been used at. But we certainly have good video where we know somebody in the public might know this person."

The video shows the suspect has some very identifying traits, a tattoo on his left hand and a watch. He was wearing glasses and also appears to have pierced ears.

The scuffle only left the victim with a scratch on her arm, but the unexpected confrontation nearly knocked over the basket holding the baby and toddler.

A reward is being offered if you can identify the suspect and police arrest him. Investigators say in addition to robbery charges this suspect is facing child endangerment because the children were put in danger during the crime.