05/26/2023
The Sergeant Bluff Police Department recently received a report involving a victim having personal property stolen while shopping at a local retailer and subsequently used to place several thousand dollars in credit card transactions.
The Sergeant Bluff Police Department would like to take a moment to raise awareness of these issues and encourage vigilance among the community and surrounding area, as it pertains to securing property and efforts to prevent becoming a victim of these thieves.
Sadly, unscrupulous people will seek out ways to victimize innocent people and too often perpetrators travel across multiple states to commit these crimes. Some of the perpetrators will work together in groups to commit these crimes, including members of the group who actively distract the victim in order to facilitate the theft.
Please be vigilant and report any suspicious people or activity to law enforcement or appropriate authorities. Feel free to share additional tips in the comments section and share this information with others.
Some prevention tips we'd like to share include:
- Keep valuables (such as purses, wallets, etc.) close by and within view while shopping.
- Be conscious and vigilant of one's surroundings and people nearby, especially in public places and shopping establishments.
- Store valuables out of view, covered, or in a compartment when being left unattended inside a vehicle.
- Always lock vehicles and close the windows while unattended.
