A Southern California man works to track down a suspect who stole thousands of dollars from him in a distraction theft scheme.
On March 19th, Irvin Nelson finished shopping at Albertson’s Market in Satico Street, Leseda, and was paying for the groceries at the check-out stand.
He found himself in the pin to pay for his debit card and was a little too close behind him to stand comfortably.
“There were two people behind me, there were men and women. They were really close to me,” he recalled.
When he was putting money in his wallet, it was when a woman Nelson described as a blonde woman with a heavy accent bumped into him and dropped his cash on the floor.
“She’s there trying to pick it up for me and I said ‘Run away, that’s my money,'” he said.
Irvin Nelson talks to KTLA after falling victim to a distracting theft at a grocery store and losing thousands of dollars in the process. (KTLA) Albertsons grocery store sales terminal. (KTLA) Albertsons grocery store in Satico Street, Leceda, California. (KTLA) Chasebank, located in Satico Street, Leceda, California. (KTLA)
The thief then chases Nelson outside and heads to the parking lot. They caught up with him and told him he had dropped a $20 bill.
“They said, ‘This is your money,’ so I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet,” Nelson said. “I had my wallet here. She put my hand on it and then she handed me a $20 bill. I think it was when she scraped my debit card.”
After distracting Nelson and stealing his debit card within minutes, the burglar withdraws nearly $1,000 from a nearby ATM.
“Then they went inside the bank, spoke to the teller and retracted the $5,000,” Nelson said. “[The bank] I did not ask for identification. ”
Nelson said he was unsure that the bank teller reportedly did not request an ID card. He is currently working with Chase Bank to collect the stolen funds.
“To be honest, I can’t believe this person will bring it closer to me,” Nelson said. “If someone comes to you saying you lost $20, tell him to get out of your face.”
For now, Nelson is working with authorities as the suspects remain common.
“$6,000 may not be that much for many people, but for my family,” he said.
Over the past few months, the Los Angeles Police Department has been warning the public about a surge in distraction fraud and thefts, including the trend of criminals stealing jewelry from seniors.
The suspects of these thefts are probably of white descent in Eastern Europe, and are often men and women who approach the victim during the day. According to LAPD, they usually deflect victims by seeking directions, ticking and tributes with gems.
Anyone with information about these types of crimes is required to call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Anonymous tips can be provided to LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
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