‘Distraction’ Identity Thieves Targeted Elderly Across SoCal: LAPD

LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities are asking for the public’s help identifying two men wanted in a series cases across Southern California in which the suspects distracted elderly victims in order to steal their identities.

The Los Angeles Police Department cited one specific case, which occurred on the 1600 block of West 25th Street in San Pedro at an unspecified state and time. Police say the suspects worked together at a cashier’s stand and pulled off similar schemes elsewhere, according to the LAPD.

“One suspect closely observes the victim entering their PIN on the keypad. The suspect then drops a bill of U.S. currency on the ground near the victim and taps them on the shoulder to alert them,” the LAPD said.

When the victim went to retrieve the money on the ground, the second suspect approached the register “in an attempt to further distract the victim. The suspect was unable to retrieve the victim’s debit card from his wallet and followed the victim into the parking lot,” the LAPD said.

The incident continued when the first suspect spoke to the victim in the parking lot and convinced him to present his debit card to the suspect, who was able to steal the card at that point, the LAPD said.

“Within minutes, the two suspects go to a bank at a different location and conduct several ATM withdrawals using the victim’s debit card,” police said.

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to contact LAPD Commercial Crimes Division, Metropolitan Financial Section Detective Franssen at 213-486-5947 or 877-527-3247 during non-business hours.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers online or at 800-222-8477.