Surveillance photos of the suspect in the theft of the nurse's purse. (Manchester Police Department)
MANCHESTER, NH (WBZ-AM) -- Police are searching for a man they say stole cash and credit cards from a nurse's purse at Catholic Medical Center Sunday evening.
The Manchester Police Department said in a release that the nurse's purse was stolen around 5:20 p.m. when she was in the next room attending to a patient.
The purse was later found inside a men's bathroom.
Manchester Police Public Information Officer Lt. Brian O'Keefe told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl that officers responded after they were notified by security.
"Although it wasn't secured, it was in a section of the hospital that is not heavily traveled by patients," O'Keefe said.
In photos taken from the hospital security cameras, the man police believe stole the purse, a dark-skinned man with black hair between 20 and 30, was wearing a black North Face jacket, a gray hoodie, jeans, a blue backpack, and glasses.
"It goes to show you that the whole aspect of perhaps someone needing some short money for whether it's drugs or Christmas presents ... it's a nurse, caring for a patient at a hospital," O'Keefe said. "Your place of employment, it should be some sort of sanctity for you."
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to contact Manchester Police.
"We're hopeful that the photos that we sent out to the media will prompt someone to call us so we can solve this crime," O'Keefe said.
He reminded everyone to keep an eye on their belongings.
"Crimes happen because they're crimes of opportunity, and perhaps this was a crime of opportunity," he said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl reports