New Port Richey police are searching for a man accused of stealing a woman’s luggage Monday morning at a shuttle stop.

  • Grandmother's luggage stolen near shuttle stop
  • Luggage contained toys for granddaughters
  • Man in truck grabbed luggage while victim stepped away

The grandmother said she lost more than just her luggage and the items inside, she said she lost time with her grandkids.

Patti Laurenzi and her husband Ray Laurenzi were heading to Nashville this week to meet their 4-month-old granddaughter.

“I was excited about going and I had gone out and bought gifts, like any grandmother you can’t go see your granddaughters without having presents,” Patti said.

The Laurenzi’s were out early Monday morning on Ranchwood Loop waiting for a shuttle with two suitcases filled with gifts.

The couple said they had forgot some electronics inside their house and went back to grab them. They had left their luggage on the curb and were inside for about a minute when a man in a red truck stopped and grabbed their luggage.

“We looked down the road and saw a red truck going around the corner,” Patti said.

Patti called 911 while Ray took off and tried to get the plate, but couldn’t see it with the truck’s hatch down.

Her luggage and the toys for her grandkids were gone.

Video of the robbery was captured on surveillance video. 

Patti estimates her financial loss at about $2,900, but she’s more concerned with the time she lost.

“He took away not only a vacation, he took away time that I could spend with my granddaughters and you can’t get that back,” she said.

Patti said she works full-time and rarely gets time off.

The Laurenzi’s filed a police report, but no one has been caught. Patti just hopes that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

Investigators are looking into the incident, but said it is possible the person in the truck mistook the suitcases for trash.