MONROE — The thieves had the gall to come back, and hit the same Monroe family twice.

The husband’s wallet and the wife’s purse were stolen in January during two separate car break-ins. A 23-year-old Monroe man allegedly used the couple’s credit, debit and food-stamp cards to take his friends shopping, spending hundreds of dollars.

The suspected ringleader is accused of identity theft. Investigators on Monday forwarded their case against him to prosecutors, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said. The Monroe man already was in the Snohomish County Jail on another case.

Five of his friends, men and women ages 23 to 44, also have been arrested. A seventh suspect has been identified, Willis said. They face various allegations including financial fraud, identity theft and conspiracy to commit identity theft.

Police worked the case by staying in touch with the victims, and by knowing who causes troubles in town.

The husband’s wallet was stolen in the first car prowl Jan. 1. The second car prowl was reported Jan. 17 along N. Lewis Street, near the husband’s work. The wife’s purse was grabbed from their van sometime that afternoon. She immediately notified her banks. By 9 p.m., she began seeing fraudulent charges on her accounts, court papers show.

Police linked the two car prowls to the same suspects because the different cards were used for purchases on the same Amazon account. Officers hope to identify who owns that account, Willis said.

The husband’s cards were used twice for a total of about $676 in early January at the Walmart in Monroe. Surveillance video also captured those transactions, Willis said.

On Jan. 28, his wife realized the thieves were using her food-stamps card. She checked records for the card and saw eight purchases made since the card was stolen, most of those at the 7-Eleven downtown. The thieves had spent more than $150 at the convenience store, which is about two blocks from her husband’s work.

Monroe police officers had the times and dates for the purchases.

They pored over the store’s surveillance footage. They recognized the 23-year-old man from previous contacts, record show. The man’s friends knew he didn’t have a job or a bank account, police allege. Yet they were observed picking out items for him to purchase for them, including food and drinks. One man reportedly admitted to having chosen a chocolate milk and a brownie. Some of the people involved are known car prowlers themselves, officers reported.

“Their actions during the surveillance video suggest all four accomplices (at 7-Eleven) knew the means of payment would not be lawful,” officer Paul Henderson wrote in an arrest report.

Henderson and officer James Hand investigated the case.

“These officers worked hard,” Willis said. “They just kept putting things together and developing their case.”

One of the people arrested reportedly had a “grocery bag full of cellphones and an iPad, which are suspected to be stolen,” Willis said.

On Monday, Hand caught up with the most recently arrested suspect. That man, 34, of Monroe, allegedly had methamphetamine and heroin in the pocket of his sweatpants.

“This is how they live, through vehicle prowls, thefts, shoplifting, and as you can see in many of the arrests, there are drugs involved,” Willis said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.