Distraction Burglary in Montrose

By Mary O’KEEFE

A man and women entered a local store on June 6 at about 5 p.m. in the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue and, after looking around the store, got the attention of the lone employee. The employee walked away from the front counter where the cash register was located.

Another man and woman then entered the store and began to look around the counter/cash register area while the employee continued to help the first couple. After being in the store for about 30 minutes, the two couples left and the worker discovered her purse, which she placed under the front counter, was missing.

A video surveillance tape showed the man who was part of the second couple that was looking around the cash register walked behind the counter and took the purse. From the video, it appeared the two couples were working in unison.

This is a typical distraction type burglary, according to Officer Abe Chung, Glendale police.

“Please be aware of this tactic,” Chung said.

The first couple that entered the store to distract the employee is described as: Caucasian female, 5’5” tall and weighing 200 pounds with brown hair. At the time she was wearing a black shirt and dark pants and was holding a white bag. The man was described as Caucasian, 6’ tall and weighing 190 pounds with black hair. He was wearing a white shirt and dark pants.

The second couple was described as: Caucasian female, 5’5” tall and weighing 200 pounds with brown hair. She was wearing a dark shirt and dark pants. The man was described as Caucasian, 6’ tall and weighing 190 pounds with black hair. He was wearing a short sleeve dark tank top and dark pants.

Anyone who has any information or sees anything suspicious is asked to contact the GPD at (818) 548-4911. If anyone witnesses a crime in progress, they are asked call 911 immediately.