Jewelry Thieves Use Distraction Scam To Target Victims, Police Warn

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Police are warning residents of a recent series of distraction-based scams by jewelry thieves across residential areas in Los Angeles County, including in Manhattan Beach.

The scam, which primarily targets elderly Hispanic men and women, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, involves a suspect approaching their victims and distracting them by asking them to pray together, requesting directions or complimenting their jewelry.

At some point, the suspect will place a "better piece of jewelry" on their target's neck while using sleight of hand to steal the real piece, according to the LAPD.

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

In February, a woman in Manhattan told police that she was walking up to her driveway around noon when a man in a blue sedan pulled alongside her home and asked for directions to a Whole Foods.

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When the man asked the woman to speak into his phone for translation, he grabbed the woman's wrist and tried to put a gold ring and chains on her. The man then tried to pull the woman's chain off her neck and drive away, knocking her onto the ground.

During another instance in late March, a suspect approached a person at Polliwag Park and placed jewelry on them, according to Manhattan Beach police. The suspect then took the person's jewelry from them.

The LAPD recommends people take the following steps to avoid having their jewelry stolen in this distraction scam:

• Avoid engaging with strangers who approach from inside a vehicle.
• Report suspicious activity, such as unfamiliar vehicles lingering in residential areas.
• If a thief takes leaves you with fake jewelry, avoid hanging the fake jewelry with bare hands to help preserve potential DNA evidence.

Anyone with information about these scams is asked to contact the LAPD at 877-527-3247. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 orgo 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.

Local Editor Rachel Barnes contributed to this report.