The thieves stole the woman's credit cards and a handgun.

Surveillance equipment on an ATM machine has helped prevent a duo of thieves from stealing even more property from an elderly California woman who is also legally blind.

Police have alleged that Dianne Escarsega entered the home of a 97-year-old woman living in a retirement community last month and claimed to be there to help care for her. While Escarsega consulted with the woman, her boyfriend, Brent Paul Longo, allegedly stole cash, payment cards and a handgun from her. After the couple left, the woman inspected her bedroom and found those items had been stolen.

The woman's eyesight is so poor that she was not able to give law enforcement officials a detailed description of the suspects. Fortunately for the victim, Escarsega tried to use her debit card at an outdoor ATM about one half hour later, so investigators were able to obtain camera footage of the woman attempting to withdraw cash.

"It's very angering to think that there's people out there that will prey on those in society such as children and elderly that sometimes can't defend themselves, it just really makes you very angry," Los Angeles' ABC affiliate KABC reports Murrieta Police Captain Dennis Vrooman said during a press conference.

Although this crime happened in Murrieta, California, law enforcement officials are still investigating whether the couple engaged in similar thefts closer to their residence in nearby Menifee.

While some criminals prefer to use skimming devices to copy card information from unsuspecting Hantle ATM users, other thieves are more brazen and have no problem stealing cards directly from consumers. To help catch criminals who engage in either practice, merchants who purchase an ATM can protect themselves and their consumers by relying on high-quality surveillance equipment to monitor their machines.

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