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Organization: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Date: August 13, 2008
New Crime Trend Targets Women at Grocery Stores
Thursday, August 7, 2008 — City of Santa Clarita — Saugus and Newhall
In three separate crimes, seniors were victims of a theft which occurred as they did their grocery shopping. On Thursday morning, August 7, 2008, a woman was grocery shopping when she was distracted by someone who appeared to be another shopper. As she tried to help the shopper, she looked away from her purse, which she had left in the shopping cart. Another suspect walked up and stole her wallet from her purse. A second and third theft occurred at different stores as the day went on. The first two thefts occurred in Newhall grocery stores, Vons and Ralphs. The third theft occurred in Saugus at Albertsons.
Detectives believe that there are three suspects, all Hispanic males. The suspects have distracted the victims by asking about food products and in one case, the suspect fell down and appeared to need help getting up. Preying on the good natures of the victims they direct the victims attention away from their shopping cart where they have left their purse sitting in a vulnerable position.
Please advise all shoppers to keep their personal property secure and on their person while in public areas. While the victims in these cases have all been female seniors, anyone who leaves their property in a vulnerable position is a potential victim for those targeting personal property.
If anyone has any information on these crimes, please contact Sergeant James Anderson at Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, (661) 799-5136.
The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. -ref 13940-13932-13947
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
