Woman charged, accused of stealing elderly widow's purse at Covington Walmart

COVINGTON, Wash. - Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook says detectives arrested Crystal Tate on Feb. 8 thanks to your tips to Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound that identified her.   

Detectives said in December, a 74-year-old woman had her purse taken out of her cart in a Covington Walmart. She had several sentimental items in her purse along with $7,430 in cash that she had just won from a casino. 

In mid-January, a woman, later identified as Crystal Tate, allegedly then used the woman's stolen credit card at a Covington Home Depot for two separate transactions: one for $86.97 and another for $244.77. 

Tate is accused in other thefts. She was identified by FOX 13 viewers sending a trip to Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. 

After she was arrested and questioned by detectives on Feb. 8, she denied stealing anything, according to court documents. She told detectives she found what she thought was a Home Depot gift card in the parking lot and used it. When it was explained to her that credit cards have names and account numbers on them, and gift cards just have numbers, Tate said she had never used a debit or credit card before, according to court documents. 

Covington Police submitted the case paperwork immediately to the King County Prosecutor's Office.   Tate was released on her own recognizance pending formal charges being filed. 

On Monday the 12th, Tate was charged with second-degree possession of stolen property.  She is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Feb. 26.

Her past criminal convictions include varying degrees of theft, criminal trespass and multiple counts of driving with a suspended license. These convictions date back as far as 2000. 

Tate also has a pending charge in Federal Way from April of 2023 for third-degree theft and making a false statement. She has had 13 warrants for her arrest since 2005.

Tate was released on her own recognizance the day after her arrest. Her next court date is her arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 26 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. 

If she does not show up to her arraignment, a warrant for her arrest will be issued.