The victim was traveling along with her husband in the realm of 2600 Cowper Street on Saturday afternoon when a person and woman stopped their vehicle to ask for directions to the freeway. The victim gave them directions, Palo Alto police said in a news release Monday.
“The woman then waved the victim closer to the car, thanked her for her help and got out,” police said. “The woman then put a ring on the victim's finger and put a necklace around his neck, apparently to thank her for the directions.”
The victim only realized at home that her gold chain had been replaced. Neither the victim nor her husband were injured within the incident.
According to police, the victim described the suspects as “Middle Eastern” and between 50 and 60 years old. The woman was “strongly built” and wore a black head covering; the person had a black beard and wore a baseball cap and white shirt.
She couldn't remember any further details concerning the suspects aside from that they were driving a light-colored sedan.
Similar incidents have occurred on the Peninsula and within the South Bay, but no jewelry fraud has been reported in Palo Alto since February 2023.
It is unclear whether the opposite cases of jewellery theft were committed by the identical suspects.
Police recommend that adult children and caregivers alert older residents, who are sometimes victims of those crimes, to the scam. They also advise older residents to concentrate on their surroundings and to maintain a secure distance if approached by strangers or occupants of an unfamiliar vehicle.
Anyone with information concerning the case can contact police at 650-329-2413; those wishing to stay anonymous can call 650-383-8984, text or email paloalto@tipnow.org.
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