Crime Watch: Thieves Target Distracted Grocery Store Shoppers

Thieves Target Distracted Shoppers

A woman had her wallet stolen at a grocery store while another woman distracted her with a conversation about food.

Roseville Police have received several reports lately for similar thefts.

Between 5:45-6 p.m. March 6, a woman shopping at a grocery store in the 6700 block of Stanford Ranch Road reported her wallet stolen. According to the report, a woman she didn’t know struck up a conversation about food while another person took the wallet out of her purse.

Roseville Police said they have received many report of similar thefts throughout the city and offer a few tips:

Watch out for strangers who try to engage you in conversation and distract you from watching your purse

If you notice anyone acting suspiciously or snooping in someone else's purse, call 911 immediately

Be ready to give the dispatcher a good description of the suspicious person(s)

Man Finds Stranger Sitting in His Car

At 7:45 a.m. March 7, a resident of the 3000 block of Monument Drive came outside and saw his car doors and trunk open, and a man he didn't know sitting in his car.

The resident asked the stranger to get out of his car, but the stranger argued with him and slapped him on the shoulder. A neighbor came to help, and the police were called.

A Roseville officer responded and also asked the stranger to get out of the victim's car. The suspect refused and then fought with the officer. Additional officers arrived and took the suspect into custody.

The victim noticed prescription drugs and other small items in his car that didn't belong to him. Officers found that the items had been stolen that night from an unlocked car in the 3000 block of Parkham Drive.

The suspect, a 47-year-old Isleton man, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing officers, assault, theft and other related charges.

Officer Spots Stolen Car While Driving Car Owner

A man spotted his stolen car on the freeway while a Roseville Police officer was driving him to his Citrus Heights home.

Around 3 a.m. March 6, a Ford Explorer was stolen from the parking lot of a gas station in the 900 block of Washington Boulevard.

An officer responded and gave the victim a ride to his house in Citrus Heights so he could get his vehicle paperwork. They were southbound on Riverside Avenue on the I-80 overpass when they both saw the victim's stolen vehicle being driven onto eastbound I-80. They got behind the car and the suspect driver, a 21-year-old male from Nevada City, stopped and surrendered without incident, and was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft.

Suspicious Person Reported Looking into Parked Cars

At 9:34 a.m. March 8, a citizen called police to report a suspicious person looking into the windows of parked cars at an office complex in the 1800 block of East Roseville Parkway.

An officer responded and contacted the suspicious person, who was in the process of rummaging through a dumpster. The officer checked the high-end bicycle the suspect was riding, and found that its serial number had been scratched off. He searched the suspect's backpack and found ID cards belonging to two different people--neither one matching the name of the suspect.

The officer seized the suspected stolen items, and arrested the suspect, a 41-year-old male from Roseville, on suspicion of possessing property with an altered or removed serial number.

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