Скачать или смотреть Jewelry Theft Scam Targeting Elderly Victims

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is warning the public about a series of distraction thefts and robberies. These crimes, occurring in residential areas across Los Angeles, primarily target elderly Hispanic men and women.

Investigators say the suspects—believed to be of Caucasian descent, possibly Eastern European—are often a man and a woman who approach victims on foot or in a rented vehicle during daylight hours. They typically distract victims by asking to pray together, requesting directions, or complimenting them on their jewelry. Once engaged, the suspects offer the victim a “better” piece of jewelry. Using a sleight-of-hand trick, they place fake jewelry around the victim’s neck while simultaneously stealing the real piece.

Many victims do not realize they have been robbed until the suspects have driven away. In some cases, children are present in the suspects’ vehicle to further distract the victim.

Videos of multiple incidents can be viewed at lapdonline.org.

How to Stay Safe:

•Avoid engaging with strangers who approach from inside a vehicle.

•Report suspicious activity, including unfamiliar vehicles lingering in residential areas. If possible, note the license plate number and a description of the suspects.

•If you become a victim, avoid handling the fake jewelry with bare hands to help preserve potential DNA evidence.

•Please continue to inform and assist the elderly segment of our communities, who generally do not monitor social media and are not always accustomed to following crime prevention tips on their own.

Anyone with information about these crimes is urged to contact the LAPD at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.