Roadside Jewelry Scam Hits Bay Area: Beware Of Strangers' Gifts

BAY AREA, CA — Fremont police are warning people to be wary of a roadside scam in which suspects use a jewelry ruse to steal from victims. Police said there have been nine such incidents since January and the most recent one occurred last Thursday.

In that incident, a vehicle pulled over to the side of the road where a woman was walking in the 700 block of McDuff Avenue. Police said that as the woman walked down the street, a man in the
passenger seat of a car engaged her in a conversation by asking her for directions.

When the woman approached the car in an effort to help the man and another person in the car, the man told her that his mother had just passed away and it was a cultural custom to give away her jewelry.

Police said the man then handed the victim a ring and placed gold chains, which later were determined to be fake, around her neck but while doing so he removed a real gold necklace from the victim's neck. The car then left the area.

Fremont police said the nine cases have taken place sporadically throughout the year. They said in all the cases the suspects placed fake jewelry on their victims while removing jewelry of value.

Police said that although the motive in all the crimes is consistent they can't definitely call the incidents a crime series because there are varying descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle.

Police said that in eight of the nine cases the victims reported the incident involved two suspects, a man and a woman. They said in two cases the victims said the female suspect had gold front teeth.

Fremont police offered several tips to prevent people from becoming victims of the roadside jewelry scam:
--When walking outdoors, people shouldn't carry large quantities of money or wear expensive jewelry because even if a necklace is concealed it may still be possible for a suspect to see the shimmer from a person's neckline.
--Don't be distracted while talking on a cellphone or listening to music on headphones.
--Be aware of the surroundings. Pay attention and take notice of people following from behind or shoulder surfing at a bank or retail establishment.
--Never approach a vehicle and only talk to the occupants from a safe distance.
--Always be alert in a neighborhood and report unknown persons and vehicles that appear suspicious or that don't belong in the area.

Fremont police said the jewelry scam cases all remain open and active investigations and said anyone with information about them should call their Investigative Unit at (510) 790-6900.

—Bay City News