Home » Santa Clarita News » Crime » Wallet Thefts In Santa Clarita On The Rise  

Wallet Thefts In Santa Clarita On The Rise  

A spike in wallet thefts from purses left in shopping carts has caught the attention of Santa Clarita deputies this summer.


Sponsored Articles


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Within the last few weeks, there have been approximately 10 reports of wallets being stolen from purses in shopping carts, according to officials.  

“The latest incidents occurred at stores on Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus,” Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials said in a Facebook post. “Suspects won’t take your whole purse—just your wallet, so that they can quickly exit the store and immediately start using your credit cards before you realize it’s even gone.”

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies recommend people avoid leaving their purses and handbags in their cart while shopping, and wear them instead.

“Even the most discerning shopper can fall prey to ‘the distraction technique’ where a second suspect approaches you, striking up conversation such as asking where a product is at or if you’ve tried a certain product — meanwhile, their accomplice helps themselves to your wallet,” officials said in the Facebook post.

Investigators believe the majority of suspects who are stealing wallets from purses and handbags are thieves from previous wallet thefts in Santa Clarita who haven’t been caught, said Sgt. Dan Dantice with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Dantice said most of the wallet thefts are random, and warned shoppers to always be aware of their surroundings.

“Keep your purse zipped up and never unattended,” he said.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com.

Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 - Santa Clarita News - Santa Clarita Radio

Wallet Thefts In Santa Clarita On The Rise  

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Gilbert Bernal

Gilbert A. Bernal Jr. has been part of the KHTS video department since Jan 2017. He was hired as video editor in June 2017 after his four-month internship in the video department. While serving as a video intern, his duties were extended to become a multimedia journalist, producing news videos for KHTS News and Features. Gilbert was added to the KHTS team as part of the station’s continued growth and expansion. An Army veteran, father and local artist Gilbert has dedicated time and energy to volunteering at schools in the Santa Clarita Valley. At Pinetree Community Elementary School, in Canyon Country, Gilbert donated art for school auctions, photographed events and painted murals. At Canyon High, he gave two art demonstrations for the “Yes I Can” organization, a peer counseling class that focuses on learning about disabilities, social inclusion, and tolerance. Starting in Feb 2017 Gilbert launched the “KHTS Man On the Street” video features which gather and reports local opinion of Santa Clarita residents on current issues or events. A return student at College of the Canyons since 2014, Gilbert has been apart of the Media Entertainment Arts department working as a college assistant. After enrolling into the film program in 2014, he was hired to work in the camera equipment room (The Cage). There he helps students with film equipment rentals and technical advice. Gilbert received his associates degree in Film Production from College of the Canyons in 2017. He is continuing his educational path and plans to attend CSUN in Fall 2018 to work for a Bachelor's degree in Film.