Thieves steal elderly Palo Alto woman’s $1,000 necklace

Quick-handed thieves swapped the victim's gold necklace with a replacement. The victim did not realize her jewelry had been stolen until she got home.

PALO ALTO — Two alleged thieves stole a $1,000 gold necklace from a woman in her 80s over the weekend, according to police.

The victim was walking with her husband Saturday afternoon in the 2600 block of Cowper Street when a man and woman stopped their vehicle to ask for directions to the freeway, which the victim provided, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release Monday.

“The woman then motioned the victim closer to the car, thanked her for the help and got out of the car,”police said. “The woman then placed a ring on the victim’s finger and a necklace around the victim’s neck, apparently to thank her for giving them the directions.”

The victim did not realize her gold necklace had been replaced until she got home. Neither the victim nor her husband was injured in the incident.

According to police, the victim described the suspects as “Middle Eastern” and between 50 and 60 years old. The woman was “heavy-set” and wearing a black head covering; the man had a black beard and was wearing a baseball cap and white shirt.

She could not recall any other details about the suspects other than they were driving a light-colored sedan.

Similar incidents have happened on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, but a jewelry scam has not been reported in Palo Alto since February 2023.

It’s unclear if the other cases of jewelry theft had been committed by the same suspects.

Police recommend that adult children and caregivers advise elderly residents, who appear to be the targets of these crimes, to beware of the scam. They also advise elderly residents to be aware of their surroundings and to maintain a safe distance if approached by strangers or occupants of an unfamiliar vehicle.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413; those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.