A couple vacationing in Castle Rock this month said their trip took a turn for the worse when someone allegedly stole the wife's purse, which contained her Social Security card, approximately $2,000 in cash and her wedding bands.

Les Slayton, 66, and his wife, Carol, 60, of Rapid City, South Dakota, said they were shopping at the Outlets at Castle Rock on Oct. 14 when they stopped to use the restroom. The couple continued shopping for 10 to 15 minutes after leaving before Carol realized she left her purse in the bathroom, they said. When she went back to look for it, Carol says the purse was gone.

Inside the Coach bag, she was carrying house keys, garage door keys, credit cards, between $1,900 and $2,200 in cash and diamond earrings.

Most significantly, the couple said, she was carrying the wedding band set Les gave her more than 40 years ago. The couple will mark their 42^nd anniversary in December.

“All of that was just material except my wedding ring,” Carol said.

Chelsea Hartnett, a spokeswoman for the Outlets at Castle Rock, confirmed a lost-and-found report was filed Oct. 14 with the shopping center, but neither customer service nor security had been informed of the missing jewelry, only of the purse.

When items are reported missing, she said, the mall provides customers information about filing reports with the Castle Rock Police Department if that is requested, but it was not for this incident. The couple did, however, file a report with police on Oct. 14.

“We do work really closely with the Castle Rock Police Department,” Hartnett said, adding police had not contacted the shopping center about the incident. “Obviously, we'll support an investigation in any way, shape or form.”

Carol said she doesn't ordinarily keep the wedding band set or her Social Security card in her purse. Les gifted her a new wedding ring in recent years, and she was carrying the original set — comprising an engagement ring, wedding band and anniversary ring — in her purse with plans to have it sized.

They were working to replace Carol's I.D. and Social Security card as of Oct. 17. The couple decided to have their credit cards turned off and their locks changed at home.

The Slaytons twice checked with customers service at the shopping center, but the purse has not been turned in.

The police report shows the Slaytons reported the purse, credit cards, cash, rings and jewelry as being stolen, estimating the market value at $3,000. They were willing to prosecute, according to the record. 

Although the Slaytons had planned to stay in Castle Rock longer, the couple said they returned home a few days early following the incident. Carol at-first hoped whoever took her purse would mail the rings to the address on the I.D., but she is no longer optimistic the items will be returned.

“It's gone forever,” Carol said. “I told (Les) that hurts me more.”