Etowah County authorities are searching for a individual in connection with the theft of a wallet from the Mountain Top Grocery last Friday morning.

Sheriff Todd Entrekin said the victim entered the store, which is located near Altoona at the intersection of Highway 278 West and Highway 179, at around 7:30 that morning – paid for her items – then accidentally left her wallet on the counter as she left; the wallet reportedly contained a substantial amount of money from her income tax refund.

After the next customer – a white female wearing an “Alabama” sweatshirt and jeans – had paid for her items and left, she was flagged down by the clerk as she was driving away from the store, and given the wallet by mistake.

The woman then left – traveling on Highway 278 towards Attalla.

When the rightful owner returned to the store, the mistake was discovered – the clerk is in no way considered a suspect in the case.

Anyone with any information regarding the case should contact the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office at (256) 546-2825.