The San Diego Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) is investigating a series of vehicle thefts in the Pacific Beach and La Jolla areas.
Investigators said some of the victims are beachgoers and surfers who left their personal belongings hidden inside their locked cars while they went out for surf, and when they came back, they found their vehicle and their personal belongings had been stolen.
De Pau, like many San Diegans, is an avid surfer who enjoys going for a paddle out in La Jolla.
“Finished up work early, so I thought I’d catch some waves,” Robert De Pau said.
He’s been a victim of theft while he’s been out in the water.
“I actually had my debit and my credit card both get stolen from me and like an $800 dollar transaction at Best buy,” De Pau said.
Although he was able to recover some of the money that was stolen, it was an experience he doesn’t want to ever happen again.
“Never stash my car keys underneath the wheel, that’s for sure,” he said. Just make sure everything is safe and make sure to take my key out into the water with myself.”
He’s not the only surfer who’s fallen victim. Investigators with the San Diego RATT said they’ve arrested suspects in a series of recent thefts.
They said in one instance, the suspects disguised themselves as fishermen as they watched the victims unloading their cars. Once the surfers were in the water, the thieves drove off in their cars to nearby victim’s cars to nearby retailers and used their credit cards to make fraudulent purchases.
“It’s pretty violating to feel that someone watched you put your key away and then they took your entire car, it’s awful,” Sydney Chang said.
While conducting an operation to track down the suspects in the first incidents, investigators said they became aware of another vehicle theft involving another surfer in the Bird Rock area.
They were able to recover a stolen vehicle, keys, and thousands of dollars in items bought with stolen credit cards.
“It’s really wrong and people should know better than that,” Lance Osborn, another surfer said.
After feeling violated by the theft, Robert invested in a lock box, especially since investigators said there may be additional victims.
“Definitely a worthwhile investment,” De Pau said.
Investigators with the task force ask anyone who may have been a victim to file a report with police or contact the regional Auto Theft Task Force at (858) 627-4000.
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