BOYNTON BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boynton Beach police say two women are facing felony charges after detectives investigating a months-long pattern of pickpocketing cases tied them to thefts targeting elderly women at stores along North Congress Avenue and to fraudulent purchases made shortly afterward at nearby retailers.
The suspects were identified by police as 59-year-old Mavis Johnson of West Palm Beach and 57-year-old Tammy Evans of Boynton Beach. Investigators say the pair worked together, with Johnson entering stores and targeting older women while Evans drove the vehicle used to leave the shopping plaza and head to other stores where stolen credit cards were used.
According to Boynton Beach Police Department probable cause affidavits, detectives had been investigating a string of pickpocketing cases over roughly five months. Police said most of the reported thefts happened at Dollar Tree and Ross Dress for Less on North Congress Avenue, where elderly female shoppers had wallets or credit cards taken without realizing it until fraudulent charges started showing up. Detectives said the same suspects had also been linked to similar crimes in Palm Beach and Broward counties.
Investigators said surveillance from earlier cases led them to a short, heavyset woman who repeatedly changed her appearance with wigs, clothing changes and medical masks. Police also identified a silver 2018 Infiniti QX80 tied to the theft pattern and said Johnson was regularly seen getting into the passenger side after the thefts while Evans drove. During an October 2025 traffic stop involving that SUV, officers found a wig in the vehicle that matched a previously issued BOLO, according to the affidavits.
Police said detectives spotted the Infiniti again on March 11 parked near the Shoppes of Boynton plaza, positioned where the driver had a clear view of the entrance to both Dollar Tree and Ross. Investigators set up surveillance and watched Johnson, wearing one disguise, move between the stores. While that was happening, Boynton Beach police received a 911 call from a Ross shopper reporting her wallet had been stolen. Detectives then followed the pair as they left the plaza and drove directly to Target on Hagen Ranch Road.
At Target, police said Johnson changed her appearance again before walking inside. An undercover detective watched her make two separate transactions using stolen credit cards, buying five $100 Visa gift cards along with smaller retail items. When she left the store, detectives arrested her. Police said they found one victim’s Bank of America card in Johnson’s pants pocket and additional stolen credit cards inside her purse, along with receipts wrapped around the cards.
Agents with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office South Florida Criminal Apprehension Team then helped take Evans into custody while she remained in the Infiniti in the parking lot, according to the affidavits. Police later searched the SUV and reported finding wigs, clothing, pink surgical masks, gift cards, a victim’s wallet and other items they said connected both women to the theft pattern. Detectives also wrote that Johnson changed disguises in the back seat while Evans drove from one store to another.
One victim told police she discovered her wallet missing while waiting in line at Ross. Another told detectives she noticed suspicious activity on her Capital One cards after an encounter inside Dollar Tree, where a woman got close to her and made a comment about “grandkids.” Police said the second victim reported a total loss of $573.77 from fraudulent charges.
Court records show separate felony cases were opened March 12 against both women in Palm Beach County. Johnson was charged in one case with unlawful possession of a stolen credit or debit card, theft by taking or retaining possession of a card taken, criminal use of personal identification, petit theft, and scheme to defraud a person over 65. In a second case, she was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen credit or debit card, theft by taking or retaining possession of a taken card, criminal use of personal identification, and scheme to defraud a person over 65. Johnson was also charged with violation of probation in connection with one of the March 11 investigations.
Evans faces matching felony charges in two separate Palm Beach County cases tied to the March 11 investigation, court records show. First-appearance records show both women were found indigent, probable cause was found, and the cases were continued to April 10 for 30-day return hearings and to May 7 for initial case conferences. The dockets also reflect no-contact orders involving victims, and in Evans’ cases, no contact with the co-defendant.
Police are urging shoppers, especially older residents, to stay aware of their surroundings and keep purses, wallets and credit cards secured while shopping in public. Boynton Beach police said anyone who believes they may have been targeted in this scheme should contact the department at 561-742-6100.
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