sbsheriff
By the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating thefts targeting female shoppers and are reaching out to warn the public and seek any information to identify suspects.
Deputies have taken three reports at Albertsons in the Calle Real Center with similar circumstances where a male suspect distracts a shopper while an accomplice steals their wallet from their nearby shopping cart. The thefts occurred on May 15, May 27, and June 17, 2023.
Through their investigations, deputies have recovered surveillance footage showing a consistent set of suspects who they are working to identify. Deputies are sharing the photos of the suspects with the public with a request that anyone with information contact the Sheriff’s Office. Based on witness interviews, deputies believe that the suspects are associated with a green minivan.
The Sheriff’s Office would also like to prevent any additional people from falling victim to this scam by letting them know this is happening and encouraging shoppers to keep watch of their wallets in shopping carts.
Anyone with information that could identify these suspects is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (805)683-2724. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact the Sheriff’s Office anonymous tipline at (805) 681-4171 or email tips@sbsheriff.org.
This investigation remains ongoing, and deputies will be contacting area business where the victim’s credit cards have been used in an additional crime of identity theft.
Bummer, i feel bad for the victims. But shopping in a supermarket with your wallet right there, easy to grab, in the back-basket/kid-seat part of the cart is pretty risky.
There are two common denominators here: 1. the a-hole thieves and 2. the people leaving their wallets and purses in shopping carts. Don’t be either.
I keep my ID/credit cards in an ultra slim wallet like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EWYMXWM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When I enter a store, all I have to carry in my pocket is this, my keys and my phone. But it’s summertime so no more pockets. If I don’t feel like wearing my dorky fanny pack, I’ll wear a slim profile cross body bag. How’s that for fashion!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076KP9X9Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
“Don’t tempt a thief” 🙁
Happened to my neighbor at the last incident and she is in 90’s. They’ll be looking for more wallets from vulnerable people, hopefully not yours.
That is so sad that one of the victims is 90. She probably remembers a time when she didn’t even have to lock a door. Law and Order needs to make a comeback.
That jackhole looks like he needs a big punch in his face followed by a chokehold. Thanks for posting the photos.
Why women leave a purse in a shopping cart basket? Because lots of women’s pants don’t have effective pockets lest they not look as slim as possible. So they lug a purse around, and SO often leave it where it can be reached into and the wallet snatched. I have pointed this possibility out to women in groceries and have never met with a positive response, they act like I am saying I am going to grab it.
I’m in my 60’s and always and still use a fanny pack! Purses and bags are dorkey! lol