A retired federal police officer had his wallet stolen Oct. 9 while standing in line at Sterling grocery store.

The victim, Harry Holdren Jr., 82, had put his wallet on the counter at the Bottom Dollar Food Store about 3 p.m. to pay for items.

Holdren dropped some items on the floor and when he bent down to pick them up, the customer in line behind him snatched his wallet, according to Holdren’s son, Daniel Holdren.

Harry Holdren didn’t realize his wallet was missing until after he left the store, according to Liz Mills, spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

The son said his father spent 36 years as a police officer with the CIA. The wallet contained $300, credit cards, “irreplaceable photos of children and grandchildren,” his Social Security card, driver’s license and his peace officer’s badge.

“For that to be stolen, that’s a black eye to any peace officer,” Daniel Holdren said.

The man was caught on video surveillance taking the wallet, Mills said. The Sheriff’s Office is working on getting an image of the alleged thief out to the public.

The suspect is described as a black man, about 6 feet tall, with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a dark colored shirt.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to call the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.