San Diego investigators are warning surfers and beachgoers about vehicle theft and credit card fraud cases in Pacific Beach and La Jolla.
The San Diego Regional Auto Theft Task Force, known as RATT, is investigating thefts involving surfers and beachgoers who left keys, wallets, phones, or cards behind before going into the water, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
Investigators said some thieves disguised themselves as fishermen while watching victims unload their cars and hide valuables.
Once the surfers entered the water, thieves allegedly found the hidden keys, stole vehicles, or used stolen credit cards at nearby stores.
The Hidden Key Became The Target
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The thefts were reported in the Pacific Beach and La Jolla areas. Investigators said the pattern involved suspects watching long enough to see where surfers placed their belongings before paddling out.
Some victims hid keys in or near their vehicles, including places such as magnetic boxes or other exterior hiding spots. That gave thieves access to locked cars without breaking windows.
Once inside, the suspects could take wallets, phones, and cards. NBC 7 reported that stolen cards were then used for fraudulent purchases at nearby retailers, and investigators recovered a stolen vehicle, keys, and thousands of dollars in merchandise bought with stolen credit cards.
One Surfer Saw An $800 Best Buy Charge
Robert De Pau told NBC 7 he had finished work early and decided to catch waves when he became a victim.
De Pau said both his debit card and credit card were stolen. He later saw an $800 transaction at Best Buy, though he told the station he was able to recover some of the stolen money.
The experience changed how he handles his belongings before surfing. His takeaway was direct: never stash car keys under the wheel. He told NBC 7 he now takes his key into the water with him.
Surfers Said The Theft Felt Personal
Another surfer, Sydney Chang, described the theft pattern as violating because someone may be watching where a person hides a key before taking the whole car.
Lance Osborn, another surfer interviewed by NBC 7, said people should know better than to target beachgoers that way. The report described the thefts as especially frustrating for surfers because they often leave the beach thinking their belongings are hidden and their vehicles are locked.
RATT investigators also learned of another vehicle theft involving a surfer in the Bird Rock area while conducting an operation to locate suspects in the earlier incidents.
RATT Believes There May Be More Victims
The task force believes additional victims may be connected to similar thefts. Anyone with information about similar cases is being asked to file a report with local law enforcement or contact the San Diego Regional Auto Theft Task Force at 858-627-4000.
For surfers and beachgoers, the warning is blunt: if someone can watch where the key goes, the car is no longer secure.
A key hidden under a tire, inside a magnetic box, near a bumper, in a wheel well, or under a towel can become the easiest way into the vehicle. Surfers should take the key with them when possible, use a secure water-safe option, avoid leaving wallets and phones inside the vehicle, and cover or remove anything that suggests valuables are inside.