Elderly Glen Rock woman falls victim to jewelry scam after suspect’s emotional ploy, police report
- Replies 0
A quiet late morning in one suburban neighborhood turned alarming for a senior when a seemingly heartfelt gesture took an unexpected turn.
What began as what seemed like nothing more than kind words offered by a stranger in passing quickly escalated into a situation that carried consequences far more costly than anyone would have expected.
According to police, what at first appeared to be a simple moment of human connection was, in reality, a carefully orchestrated and well-planned scam carried out with precision.
By the time the encounter had come to an end, the unsuspecting woman realized she had been deceived and had lost pieces of cherished jewelry that carried both sentimental value and a financial worth amounting to hundreds of dollars.
The incident unfolded late in the morning, just before 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, when a seemingly ordinary moment near a local intersection took a sudden and unexpected turn.
According to authorities, the victim was approached by a woman who immediately struck up a conversation.
The stranger, described as possibly being of Arab descent, told the victim that she reminded her of her late mother.
She added that it happened to be her mother’s birthday that day. Police say the woman then embraced the victim, placing two necklaces, a bracelet, and two rings on her.
Also read: Prosecutors: Scammers targeted hundreds by impersonating grandchildren in need
During this distraction, she managed to remove the victim’s own gold necklace and a bangle bracelet.
Not long after, a man appeared and became part of the encounter, discreetly slipping a $5 bill into the victim’s pocket before quickly walking away and leaving the area.
He left alongside the woman in a sedan with a young child inside, according to Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann.
The victim and her son later confirmed that the stolen necklace and pendant were worth more than $550.
Also read: A cruel funeral fundraising scam just emptied a Chicago man’s wallet—here’s what went wrong
In the midst of the exchange, a bracelet was taken from the victim, though police later noted that the item itself held relatively little monetary value despite the unsettling nature of the theft.
Authorities are now turning to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information that could help identify those involved to come forward.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact D/Sgt. James Calaski at 201-670-3948 or [email protected].
For those willing to share tips directly, Detective Lucas Doney can be reached by phone at 201-670-3947 or via email at [email protected].
Read next: Police warn: Self-checkout scam preying on seniors in San Mateo
How do you feel about scams that use emotions to target seniors? Have you ever heard of a similar situation in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to know.
What began as what seemed like nothing more than kind words offered by a stranger in passing quickly escalated into a situation that carried consequences far more costly than anyone would have expected.
According to police, what at first appeared to be a simple moment of human connection was, in reality, a carefully orchestrated and well-planned scam carried out with precision.
By the time the encounter had come to an end, the unsuspecting woman realized she had been deceived and had lost pieces of cherished jewelry that carried both sentimental value and a financial worth amounting to hundreds of dollars.
The incident unfolded late in the morning, just before 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, when a seemingly ordinary moment near a local intersection took a sudden and unexpected turn.
According to authorities, the victim was approached by a woman who immediately struck up a conversation.
Elderly Glen Rock woman falls victim to jewelry scam after suspect’s emotional ploy, police report. Image source: Max Fleischmann / Unsplash
The stranger, described as possibly being of Arab descent, told the victim that she reminded her of her late mother.
She added that it happened to be her mother’s birthday that day. Police say the woman then embraced the victim, placing two necklaces, a bracelet, and two rings on her.
Also read: Prosecutors: Scammers targeted hundreds by impersonating grandchildren in need
During this distraction, she managed to remove the victim’s own gold necklace and a bangle bracelet.
Not long after, a man appeared and became part of the encounter, discreetly slipping a $5 bill into the victim’s pocket before quickly walking away and leaving the area.
He left alongside the woman in a sedan with a young child inside, according to Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann.
The victim and her son later confirmed that the stolen necklace and pendant were worth more than $550.
Also read: A cruel funeral fundraising scam just emptied a Chicago man’s wallet—here’s what went wrong
In the midst of the exchange, a bracelet was taken from the victim, though police later noted that the item itself held relatively little monetary value despite the unsettling nature of the theft.
Authorities are now turning to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information that could help identify those involved to come forward.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact D/Sgt. James Calaski at 201-670-3948 or [email protected].
For those willing to share tips directly, Detective Lucas Doney can be reached by phone at 201-670-3947 or via email at [email protected].
Read next: Police warn: Self-checkout scam preying on seniors in San Mateo
