A burglary at a tailor shop could be linked to two other crimes in San Jose involving women who allegedly used distraction as a strategy to steal valuables worth thousands of dollars.
San Jose police on Friday were working to link the cases, which include an elderly couple robbed of their safe during a home invasion and a family burglarized of over $100,000 worth of jewelry.
The latest possible related case involves Park’s Tailoring on Meridian Avenue in San Jose, where women in long dresses used a distraction tactic while others steal a family vault with items worth up to $150,000, police said. The incident happened back in August, but the ruse they describe is the same one used in at least two other thefts this week.
Surveillance videos in the other two cases also show women in long dresses using the same strategy.
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"The ruse is always the same, with intent to distract with multiple individuals," said Steve Aponte, San Jose police spokesman.
In this case, the owner said the thieves ransacked the family home attacked to the tailor shop and made off with a large safe.
"We're so heartbroken. Our parents are still losing sleep." said the victim's daughter, who did not want their name published. "They were robbed of their whole retirement. Family heirlooms, jewelry that won't be covered by insurance."
Police are still working to link all the cases together.
"This particular crew we've isolated to know that they're from Romania," Aponte said. "They're a Romani theft crew. They work in concert across the country with the same goal -- larceny theft, burglary."
The San Jose Police Department robbery unit and financial crimes unit are investigating the crimes.
Police are now asking people to dial 911 the minute they suspect suspicious activity that sounds similar to the crimes. Police also tell residents to exercise good judgement when someone comes to your home and to never let anyone inside unless they can prove they are with an agency you were expecting, like plumbers, electricians, and nurses.
