Couple frisks at least 6 pedestrians to steal jewelry in Bellevue, targeting victims in their 70s
Police looking for couple who frisk pedestrians for jewelry to steal
According to Bellevue police, the couple targeted victims in their 70s, who spoke little English.
BELLEVUE, Wash. - Bellevue police are looking to identify two suspects, and alert the public, following several jewelry thefts.
Police are investigating at least six thefts where a couple steals jewelry from people on the street. In four of the six cases, the couple targeted people in their 70s who spoke little English, so they were confused as to what was happening and what the couple was asking of them.
The couple even frisked the victims for jewelry or money to steal, police said.
The suspects have been associated with four different vehicles, which are most likely rentals, police said. During at least one instance, there were two children in the car.
Police believe they are part of an organized crime ring operating along the west coast.
It's unclear if these thefts are related to a jewelry scam that was reported in King and Kitsap Counties.
In those scams, a couple tells the victim(s) their overseas luggage was lost and that they need money until it arrives, and in exchange, they give the victim jewelry as collateral. However, the jewelry victims receive from the couple are fake and they get scammed out of thousands of dollars.
'We lost our money': Family warns of couple using fake jewelry to steal thousands of dollars
A family is warning others of a scam they fell victim to, where a couple said they were from a foreign country and needed money. The family offered it to them and took what they thought was real gold jewelry as collateral for later payback-- but they learned the hard way and are now out thousands of dollars.