Cops Warn Residents To Stay Vigilant After Necklace Stolen In Naperville Parking Lot

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville police are telling residents to stay vigilant in parking lots, after a gold necklace was stolen from a man in the parking lot of Patel Brothers.

According to the city's Senior Communications Specialist Kelley Munch, the man was putting his groceries in his car around 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 28, when a light-colored sedan pulled up behind him.

Munch told Patch there was a man with forearm tattoos in the sedan, who rolled down the car window and began talking to the shopper. The man gave the shopper two "yellow chain" necklaces and said he should donate them to his church.

A woman between 30 and 40 years old, wearing a blue jacket, then got out of the passenger seat of the sedan and offered to give the shopper a hug.

After she hugged them, she and the driver both left in the sedan. Shortly after, the shopper noticed the gold necklace he was wearing had been stolen.

Per a post on the Naperville Police Department Facebook page, there has been an uptick in similar thefts in parking lots in Chicago and its suburbs.

Police say the theft usually follows a similar pattern, in which the thieves target shoppers who are putting items into their cars. The thieves usually offer a piece of jewelry, Air Pods, an iPhone or other items to the person they're targeting and try to distract them with friendly conversation.

According to the post, it is common for criminals in this type of theft to work with other people. They ofter have children in tow to increase the distraction as they steal jewelry from their targets.

The offenders then flee the scene and the victim later discovers that they item they were given is costume jewelry, is a broken electronics product or has no significant value.

Police recommend avoiding taking any gifts from strangers and to keep an "appropriate distance between themselves and strangers."

Anyone who believes they are a target of such an incident should call 911.