Victim's Daughter Speaks Out About 'Distraction Thefts'

BETHESDA, Md. (WUSA) -- Thieves are targeting seniors on elevators. It happened recently to Deborah Schwartz's 73-year-old father.

Schwartz send her dad and 10-year-old daughter to the Camalier Building in Bethesda a couple weeks ago. While on an elevator, her father was distracted by two other men.

"When the doors opened one of them dropped a magazine and stepped on his foot while the other guy reached into his side pocket and took his wallet," Schwartz said.

When he realized his wallet was gone, so were the suspects. Lucille Baur with Montgomery County Police says this type of crime is called a "Distraction Theft."

"You have one individual, perhaps a male, perhaps a female, who forms some sort of distraction while an accomplice takes the wallet or the purse of a victim," Baur said.

Back in May, similar thefts on elevators happened a half dozen times at buildings in the Bethesda area. Baur says most victims have been men. But warns that women are often targeted in the grocery store.

"Suspects will come up to a woman and ask some sort of a question," she said, "And just in the amount of time that she's trying to be helpful someone else is going inside her purse, which is typically left inside the shopping cart, removing her wallet, taking cash and credit cards."

Schwartz says she hopes that by speaking out, others can learn about how to protect themselves.

"When you're going into an elevator I think it's very important to size up the situation," she said, "And if you have any doubts what-so-ever, even if you think you might be wrong, don't get in that elevator. Pretend like you forgot something in the car and go back and wait it out."

MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE, PICKPOCKET PREVENTION TIPS:

• 1. Be aware of where you are and who's around you.
• 2. If you carry a purse, keep your hand on the closure and keep the purse close to your body. Don't leave your purse in a shopping cart.
• 3. If you carry a wallet, keep it inside your coat or in a side pocket- never that rear pocket! And it's a good idea to have a couple of stout rubber bands around it. Makes it harder to extract.
• 4. Watch out for loud arguments or commotions. If someone drops change or other personal items, chances are that this is being staged as a distraction and that your pocket may be picked if you stop to help.
• 5. If you're jostled in a crowd, watch out! A pickpocket may be responsible. You're at a special risk in elevators- especially if the elevator is crowded.
• 6. If your pocket is picked, immediately yell out to warn others. Don't be afraid to shout! Ask for help.
• 7. Remember that pickpockets often work in teams. One person may appear to be helping you in some way, but chances are that his (or her) accomplice is after your valuables while you're distracted.
• 8. Make copies or record your credit card information in case you need to cancel.