Police Investigate Jewelry Thefts Outside Redwood City Costco

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Redwood City police are reminding people to be mindful after at least two unsuspecting victims had their necklaces taken in separate encounters in a Costco parking lot this month.

In a news release Monday, police said investigators had been looking into social media posts describing a series of robberies alleged to have taken place at the Costco of Middlefield Road. The police department said the incidents described were unsubstantiated, noting that it received no reports of robberies occurring during the timeframe described.

However, investigators learned of two cases where victims were approached by unidentified women who stole their jewelry in the Costco parking lot.

In the first incident on Aug. 11, police said a woman approached the victim and gave her a fake gold necklace. When the victim returned home, she realized the woman had stolen her real gold necklace in the process.

Less than a week later, on Aug. 17, a woman approached a man in the parking lot and gave him a kiss on the cheek. A few moments later, the victim realized the woman had taken his necklace.

Both cases remain under investigation.

"We'd like to remind folks to be mindful of their belongings when being approached by people they don't know," officials wrote Monday. "There is a common criminal scam where suspects approach victims and offer them free jewelry while stealing the victim's actual jewelry. The suspects often target the elderly."

Anyone with information that could help the investigation can contact Redwood City's tip line at 650-780-7110.