{"slug": "thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-beaches", "title": "Thieves disguised as fishermen target surfers’ vehicles, credit cards at California beaches", "summary": "Thieves disguised as fishermen are targeting surfers' vehicles at San Diego beaches, stealing car keys and credit cards to make fraudulent purchases. The California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force are investigating four reported thefts in Pacific Beach and La Jolla, with two arrests made so far.", "body_md": "**Getting your**\n\n[Trinity Audio](//trinityaudio.ai)player 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.\n\nFour 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nInvestigators 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\n“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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nInvestigators 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.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-beaches", "canonical_source": "https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/29/thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-san-diego-beaches/", "published_at": "2026-06-29 18:23:42+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-29 18:51:14.461645+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-safety"], "entities": ["California Highway Patrol", "San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force", "Jared Grieshaber", "Home Depot", "Vons", "CVS", "Ralphs", "Dick's Sporting Goods"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-beaches", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-beaches.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-beaches.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/thieves-disguised-as-fishermen-target-surfers-vehicles-credit-cards-at-beaches.jsonld"}}