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Chino Hills Police report series of distraction thefts targeting older adults; department urges vigilance
Summary
The Chino Hills Police Department at the Feb. 11 council meeting described three distraction‑style thefts in late January involving senior victims; investigators reported cash and card fraud and urged residents to remain vigilant when using ATMs or handling cash.
The Chino Hills Police Department told the City Council on Feb. 11 it is investigating multiple distraction thefts that targeted older adults in January.
Police Chief Gerard described three incidents: on Jan. 20 a 66‑year‑old woman left her purse on the passenger seat while loading groceries and an unknown male opened the passenger door and stole it; on Jan. 25 a 78‑year‑old man at a local ATM was approached by a suspect who returned a different ATM card and later the victim discovered roughly $1,500 had been withdrawn from his account; and on Jan. 30 a 77‑year‑old woman who had withdrawn cash from a bank was distracted by a person claiming she had dropped money and, while checking, had the withdrawn cash taken from her vehicle.
"The public is reminded to be aware of their surroundings, and please remain vigilant when conducting bank business and while shopping. Be wary of people approaching to distract you," Chief Gerard said. He advised that anyone who feels threatened or believes they may be the target of a distraction theft should not engage and should call 911 immediately.
Police did not release suspect names or indicate arrests at the Feb. 11 meeting. The department asked residents to report suspicious approaches near ATMs and to avoid leaving purses or valuables unattended in vehicles while conducting transactions.
The police update was provided as part of the regular safety reports; no new enforcement policies or ordinances were proposed at the meeting.
