Trader Joe’s shoppers targeted in recent string of cell phone thefts

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego police are looking to identify the man who they say stole more than a dozen phones from unsuspecting shoppers at several local Trader Joe's locations, all in the same day.

FOX 5/KUSI reporter Kasia Gregorczyk was a victim in one of these thefts.

"Within a span of three hours traveling south to different Trader Joe's locations, 13 cell phones were stolen," said Cpt. Tammy Clendenen with San Diego Police Eastern Division.

Police believe the suspect started in Riverside County on Oct. 17 and then moved quickly through at least eight stores in the city of San Diego.

A call about a confrontation brought officers to the Mission Valley Trader Joe's parking around six o'clock that evening.

"There was one victim who had already tracked their location to that same Mission Valley Trader Joe's parking lot that I tracked my phone to. By the time I got there, the police had already showed up, which I think was really pivotal in all of this," Gregorczyk said.

Gregorczyk believed her phone had been stolen at the Hillcrest location about an hour earlier.

While the suspect got away, police were able to recover her phone and a dozen others.

"Often times people get their cell phones stolen and they never see them again," Clendenen said.

This string of theft serves as a big reminder for shoppers, especially heading into the busy holiday season.

"Secure your items where you're going to feel it if somebody takes it," said Clendenen, noting one victim had their phone swiped from their hoodie pocket.

Gregorczyk's phone was taken from the side pocket of a diaper bag during a busy time of the night when it was crowded in the store.

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After the theft, managers at Hillcrest Trader Joe's said corporate was aware of a spike in cell phone thefts occurring in the stores, but said the store does not have cameras.

No cameras could be seen while walking through the store.

Trader Joe's corporate declined an interview, but said in a statement: "We have a multi-layered approach to safety and cameras are one piece of that plan. There are cameras in the store where your phone was stolen. We encourage any victim of a theft in one of our stores to file a report with local law enforcement. We fully cooperate with all law enforcement investigations."

To date, Clendenen said Trader Joe's has not provided any video or evidence that would help identify the suspect.

That suspect is being described as a Hispanic man in his 30s, 5'8 to 5'10, with short dark hair. He was driving a black Mercedes Benz the night of the thefts.

A picture of the suspect was provided to San Diego police by Best Buy in Mira Mesa, where police say he tried to use one of the stolen phones as a payment method.

Twelve of the phones have since been reunited with their owners.

The suspect could be facing felony grand theft charges due to the total value of the stolen phones.

Anyone with information that could help identify him is asked to contact San Diego Police Eastern Division at 858-495-7900.