Woman, 92, speaks out after ‘distraction thieves' in L.A. steal $40K necklace

Yahoo

24-04-2025

A 92-year-old woman is speaking out after 'distraction thieves' stole a $40,000 piece of jewelry off her neck, in an organized criminal scheme that's recently seen a spike across Southern California.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, who held a press event earlier this week to warn people about the scam, especially seniors who appear to be targets, there have been at least 140 distraction-style thefts in the city this year alone. That number, though, is likely higher due to unreported incidents.
For Los Angeles resident Sylvia Cunliffe, she was taken by the thieves on April 14 in Chinatown.
'My girlfriend and I decided we were going to have a jolly day in Chinatown,' the 92-year-old told KTLA's John Fenoglio. 'We go there sometimes.'
Cunliffe said that when she and her friend were returning to the car in the 800 block of North Broadway, she spotted a woman lingering.
'I noticed this woman and she's just hanging around,' she explained.
By the time she got into her car, the thieves were on her.
'This body thrust itself into my window and starts trying to get to my neck and I said, 'What are you doing?'' Cunliffe recalled. 'She says, 'I have something for you,' and I said, 'Well, I don't really want to buy anything, what are you selling?' She said, 'I'm not selling anything. I have a gift.''
That's when a man approached the passenger window and began banging on the glass, prompting Cunliffe's friend to call 911.
'Meanwhile, I'm being semi-throttled by this woman trying to give me a gift,' the 92-year-old told KTLA.
The crooks sped off moments before police arrived, but it was too late for Cunliffe.
Authorities say victims are usually approached by thieves of Caucasian descent, sometimes with Eastern European accents. These organized crooks tend to be a man and a woman and, in some cases, children are involved as well. The thieves are known to approach both on foot and in rented vehicles and tend to distract victims by asking them for directions, complimenting their jewelry or asking if they can pray with them.
'Once engaged, they offer a 'gift' of a piece of jewelry and place fake jewelry on the victim's neck, simultaneously stealing the real piece,' officials said in a community bulletin. 'Many victims do not know their property was taken until the suspects have left.'
Fortunately, Cunliffe, who said the necklace was worth $40,000, was not injured. She didn't hesitate when asked if the necklace had sentimental value.
'Yeah, it matches my ring,' she said, adding that people shouldn't just act like mice in a hole when it comes to criminals. 'That's why I called KTLA.'
She also had a last bit of advice.
'Ladies, if you're out alone, have a swivel for a neck,' she said. 'Gentlemen, guard your ladies.'
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