Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...Surfers are being warned against leaving their car keys and wallets behind when heading out into the water after law enforcement personnel announced this week their investigation into a series of thefts at San Diego beaches.
Four reported thefts occurred in the Pacific Beach and La Jolla areas between March and June 16, and at least one vehicle theft occurred in the Bird Rock area, California Highway Patrol Officer Jared Grieshaber said.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force, or RATT, a specialized unit consisting of 14 agencies from across the San Diego County region.
Investigators said the thefts are being done in beach areas by thieves often disguised as fishermen, Grieshaber said. The thieves surveil the surfers and watch them unload their vehicles before the victims enter the water.
The thieves then look for concealed vehicle keys that the victims hide, such as in magnetic lockboxes, before entering the water. The thieves find the key and steal the vehicle or take the victims’ credit cards to use, Grieshaber said.
“When the victims entered the water, thieves would steal the vehicles and use the victims’ stolen credit cards to make fraudulent purchases at nearby retailers, including Home Depot, Vons, CVS, Ralphs and Dick’s Sporting Goods,” Grieshaber said.
In the Bird Rock case, detectives recovered the stolen vehicle key, as well as thousands of dollars in items that were purchased with stolen credit cards. Two arrests have been made so far in connection with the thefts.
Investigators said they believe more victims may exist and are seeking additional information about vehicle thefts with similar circumstances. The task force asked people with information to contact RATT at 858-627-4000.