Two women in their 80s were the victims of a scam June 1, when they were both approached at separate locations in La Jolla and University City by men who claimed their vehicles needed repairs.
The incidents occurred an hour apart, and during both the women were asked for large amounts of cash in return for service to their cars, according to Mónica Muãoz, San Diego Police Department spokeswoman.
“Understand that these people target elderly because they seem to be more trusting,” Muãoz said. “This is a situation where we see these shady type of characters who target this population.”
In May, police reported 17 cases of elderly people throughout the city who had been taken advantage of in their own homes by people who knocked on their doors and then distracted them while entering their homes to steal jewelry, cash and other small valuables, Muãoz said. The cases are similar to those that occurred on June 1, she said.
In one case, an 85-year-old woman who was leaving a store around noon on the corner of Girard Avenue and Pearl Street could not remember what the two men who approached her looked like but recalled them saying her car was in drastic need of repair and that they would only charge her for the parts, according to Muãoz.
The victim also remembered that one man put his hand under the vehicle and showed her what he claimed to be grease that was leaking from her car, Muãoz said.
She called police about the incident directly after it happened. The following day, June 2, an 87-year-old woman contacted police with an almost identical story.
While driving home from Vons grocery store on Governor Drive, the woman was flagged down by two men who pulled up next to her in a dark green van that was approximately six years old, according to police reports.
After pulling over in a Carl’s Junior parking lot, the woman agreed to the men’s request that she withdraw $7,500 from her bank to pay them to fix her tire, according to police.
The men identified themselves as mechanics and one of them offered to bring her to the UTC Wells Fargo, where she withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash that she gave them, Muãoz said.
Police said the 87-year-old woman had a complete and detailed description of the men, who she said were Hispanic with black hair, one approximately 25 and one 28 years old.
The woman said the van driver, who identified himself as David, had a beard and was clad in a backward navy baseball cap, gray T-shirt. His hands were dirty, according to police reports. He is approximately 5’10” and 180 pounds.
The second male suspect is about 5’7″ and 145 pounds and was clean-shaven with fair skin. He was wearing a white or light blue T-shirt, according to reports.
Police are advising anyone who believes they may have witnessed either incident and anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a similar crime to immediately contact the San Diego Police Department, (858) 454-3154, or Crime Stoppers, (888) 580-TIPS. Information leading to an arrest is compensated with a reward of up to $1,000.
“Our recommendation is don’t ever make a deal with someone to pay them in a parking lot if you don’t have any proof that they have a license or are an authorized mechanic and are really who they say they are,” Muãoz said. “The second thing is don’t ever get into a car with someone you don’t know.”