Naperville Police Warn Residents After Gold Necklace Stolen in Distraction Theft

A man loading groceries into his car outside Patel Brothers on Ogden Avenue became the target of a coordinated distraction theft at around 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 28, walking away from the encounter without the gold necklace he had been wearing.

Naperville police, through Senior Communications Specialist Kelley Munch, described a two-person operation that unfolded with unsettling smoothness. A light-colored sedan pulled up behind the shopper as he loaded his car. The male driver, who had forearm tattoos, rolled down his window and struck up a conversation, then handed the shopper two "yellow chain" necklaces with the suggestion that he donate them to his church. While the shopper's attention was occupied, a woman between 30 and 40 years old wearing a blue jacket stepped out of the passenger seat and offered a hug. After the embrace, both suspects returned to the sedan and drove away. Moments later, the shopper noticed his gold necklace was gone.

No arrests have been made. Police have released no suspect names, and the vehicle is described only as a light-colored sedan with no further make, model, or plate information available.

The Naperville Police Department noted on its Facebook page that similar distraction-style thefts have been on the rise in parking lots throughout Chicago and its suburbs. The tactic follows a recognizable pattern: engage a target in a brief, friendly interaction that requires physical proximity, use that proximity to remove jewelry, and disappear before the victim realizes what happened.

Naperville police are urging residents to stay alert in parking lots, particularly when approached by strangers near their vehicles. The gold necklace taken in the Patel Brothers lot has not been recovered.