West Coast Jewelry Thieves Target Pedestrians Using ‘Chaotic Interactions’

Thieves have been targeting pedestrians for their jewelry in Washington State.

Bellevue Police Capt. Joe Nault said there have been six cases, King5 reports. He said the thefts appear to involved a group using “an organized, well-rehearsed tactic.”

The suspects tend to “create a chaotic interaction” such as starting a conversation involving a language barrier.

“A lot of things are happening at once, sort of a stimulus overload and then next thing you know their necklace or watch has been removed from them,” Nault said.

Two of the instances have involved Rolex watches, and another involved a $6,000 necklace.

Four of the cases occurred in Bellevue, while one happened in Kirkland and another happened on Kitsap Peninsula.

Nault said similar crimes have been reported in San Diego.

And in June, police in Staten Island, NY, advised residents to hide their jewelry while walking down the street.

Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon posted a flyer from the New York Police Department stating that “crews of thieves have been reportedly stealing jewelry from elderly victims, often using children as a distraction.”