By Lookout Staff

February 25, 2021 -- Santa Monica police are looking for three suspects who have been preying on elderly residents using a scheme to steal their jewelry.

The suspects -- a male and two females who may be White -- have targeted at least two elderly women walking alone on Ocean Avenue.

The incidents took place between 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 17, near the 500 and 600 Block of Ocean Avenue, said Lt. Rudy Flores.

In each incident, "a female suspect calls out to the victim from a parked car asking for directions or assistance in an effort to get the victim to come close enough to touch or grab them," Flores said.

"The suspect then puts a piece of fake jewelry on the victim, while stealthily removing their expensive jewelry," he said.

They then flee in a getaway vehicle usually driven by a male suspect, Flores said.

One of the two female suspects, both of them passengers, is described as Middle Eastern or White, between 40 and 60 years of age with dark or brown hair.

The other is "potentially White" in her mid-40s with dark hair and possibly "wearing a scarf covering her hair," police said.

The driver is described as a male, "potentially White" in his mid-40s with dark hair.

SMPD is working with other local agencies to investigate the cases, Flores said.

Police advise residents to "never approach a strange vehicle and continue to report suspicious behavior."

If you or someone you know believes they have been a victim of a similar crime, please contact Detective David Haro from SMPD's Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at (310) 458-8432 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.