A new pattern of theft popping up in San Pablo is hardly the smash-and-grab variety, but one where some apparently nice youngsters roll up in a car offering free jewelry, only to steal elderly peoples’ real jewelry.
The years since the pandemic have appeared to see a very disturbing uptick in attacks on seniors, attacks that are often disturbingly violent. But Bay Area News Group reports on a recent series of thefts in San Pablo where the criminals are using kindness as their weapon. That outlet reports on a number of recent thefts where thieves are able to steal elderly peoples’ jewelry, by rolling up in automobiles offering “prayers and fake jewelry,” putting the fake jewelry on them for free, but stealing their real jewelry in a sleight-of-hand trick.
Video of one such incident is seen above (and yes they set it to some very odd music). A Cadillac SUV rolls up to two strolling older people, and someone in the car makes a friendly gesture to get the two to approach the vehicle. They offer one man a free necklace, which turns into a swindle of his real necklace…