Crime & Safety
'Distraction Burglars' Target Los Alamitos Seniors
Police in Los Alamitos are warning residents to be on the lookout for scam artists who pose as professionals or neighbors to gain access to their homes.
Los Alamitos police are warning the community of burglars using scams to gain access to the homes of elderly residents.
In two recent daytime burglaries, the suspects worked as a team with one person distracting an elderly victim in the home’s yard while another ransacked the house for valuables.
“Crimes of this nature are referred to as distraction burglaries, because the suspects, working in teams, draw the resident’s attention to a perceived problem in their back yard or an area of the home out of view from the dwelling’s interior,” Capt. Bruce McAlpine said in a written release. “While one suspect keeps the homeowner occupied or distracted, another suspect enters the home and quickly looks for items to steal.”
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to McAlpine, the suspects are in the house for no more than 10 minutes, and they take small concealable items such as jewelry, cash, identity documents or small electronic devices.
Often the suspects pretend to be working on official business, wearing clothing that suggests they are associated with a utility company, pest exterminator, or government employee. Others may pretend to be a neighbor looking for a lost pet.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Victims are convinced of a problem and agree to meet the suspect in their back yard where they cannot watch their house or see another person enter the residence,” according to McAlpine. “The elderly population is often targeted because they may to be more trusting of people and easier to deceive.”
Tips for protecting yourself from distraction burglaries:
- Never allow someone in your home you do not know.
- If the person is soliciting work or claims to be associated with a particular company or government agency and they tell you they are there to complete a job, ask for their identification or a phone number you can call to verify their story.
- Talk to your family members or friends and warn them of this activity.
- If you suspect something is wrong, don’t hesitate to contact the police at (562) 594-7242 and an officer will respond to help.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
