LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. (CBS Tampa) - Police have a suspected wallet thief in custody after the man left his own wallet behind at the scene of his most recent crime.

The Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that Stephen Eric Maxwell, 47, is being held in a Broward County jail on suspicions of perpetrating several robberies.

According to police, Maxwell would meet women in bars, then snatch their wallets from their purses while they were otherwise occupied or distracted.

Though he had been perpetrating the crimes since late November of last year, he was not caught until this past Saturday.

His victim told authorities that she saw Maxwell digging through her purse. When she confronted him, he fled the scene, leaving his own wallet – complete with photo identification – behind in the process.

The paper learned that he would use the stolen cash or credit cards to purchase alcohol and cigarettes, in addition to other items. He also reportedly made donations to the American Diabetes Association using the ill-gotten funds.

Maxwell was ordered to be held without bond, the Sun-Sentinel is reporting, in light of what the judge presiding over the case – Broward Judge John Hurley , who allegedly got a laugh out of the circumstances – referred to as “ongoing criminal activity.”