30 days ago
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Sally McFarland had left her car for just a couple of minutes to pick up her two grandsons at Crocker-Riverside Elementary School when the thief struck.
A witness told McFarland when she got back to her car, "You were robbed...This man crashed into your passenger window and broke your window and took (your) purse right out."
A couple of hours later, an American Express representative called her to say the thieves had quickly charged $900 in merchandise at a nearby Target store.
McFarland is just one of an increasing number of victims to be hit in the last six weeks outside Sacramento area schools.
"Apparently, we have teams of individuals that are watching parents as they get out of their vehicles, particularly at the end of the school day," said Sacramento Unified Schools Chief of Security Vince Matranga.
Parents have also been hit at C.P. Huntington Elementary School and a number of others schools.
Word has begun to spread through neighborhood blogs and e-mails, and the district has also sent notifications to some parents that they need to stop leaving purses and other valuables in their cars when they pick up their kids.
"I definitely don't leave my purse in the car when I go pick my daughter up or when I drop her off. It's good to be safe," said parent Erin Riches, who learned of the thefts through her area's Neighborhood Watch Program.
The thieves often work in teams of two, with a woman sometimes casing parked cars to see which ones may be targets. A second person will punch the window and then run to a waiting vehicle to make a getaway.
"They'll smash out the car window, grab the purse and take off. It just takes a matter of 15 to 20 seconds to do that," said Matranga.
Matranga said it's crucial to cancel your credit cards immediately and to always file a police report. A report can help you get back your property if it's recovered and can help investigators track the pattern of thefts.
Someone found McFarland's purse and wallet in a garbage can at a gas station with everything but her credit cards and driver's license.
She said she's learned her lesson. "Never leave anything like a purse or a laptop or anything out where they can see it. Take it with you," McFarland said.
By Dave Marquis, dmarquis@news10.net
News10/KXTV
