Neighborhood News

Attempted Robbery | Alphabet Streets

An 80-year-old woman walking in the Alphabet Streets was approached by two suspects from a vehicle who attempted to remove her jewelry in an incident on Tuesday, May 30, at approximately 2:15 p.m.

The couple, described by Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin as a male and female, possibly Middle Eastern or Eastern European, in their 30s to 40s, approached the woman.

The victim, who spoke with the Palisadian-Post on the condition of anonymity, said the incident took place on Bashford Street, between Galloway and Hartzell—an area she frequently walks. She explained that the suspects were asking for directions to the freeway.

“The suspects got out of the vehicle and walked up to the woman and tried to distract her by trying to gift her jewelry for being so nice,” Espin reported. “The suspects kept grabbing the woman’s hands, distracting her with jewelry (most likely fake) at the same time trying to remove the victim’s own jewelry.”

The suspects fled after noticing a jogger in the area. The jogger assisted the victim and the two called Palisades Patrol, whom she said arrived to the scene within minutes.

“I spoke to our theft detectives who advised me that this type of theft by trickery has occurred all over the city of LA,” according to Espin. “These suspects will seek out our elderly community members, and try to distract them by placing their hands all over their arms and wrists to remove jewelry.”

Espin encouraged members of the community to “be aware” of their surroundings: “Especially when someone approaches you, trying to sell you something and or place items on you to distract you from them taking off your own personal jewelry.”

—SARAH SHMERLING