A wave of brazen car thefts is hitting San Diego’s beaches, leaving surfers high and dry.
The San Diego Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) is hunting a ruthless crew targeting Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and Bird Rock.
The “fishy” thieves allegedly pose as harmless fishermen, watching surfers unload their boards before striking their cars.
The moment a surfer hits the water, the thieves strike. They steal keys from lockboxes or “hidden” spots and drive off in the victim’s ride.
“Finished up work early, so I thought I’d catch some waves,” Robert De Pau, a surfer told NBC San Diego. Instead, he caught a nightmare.
De Pau returned from the swell to find his car gone and his credit cards used for an $800 spree at Best Buy.
“It’s pretty violating to feel that someone watched you put your key away and then they took your entire car,” said beachgoer Sydney Chang. “It’s awful,” reported NBC San Diego.
Cops say the thieves aren’t just stealing cars, they’re hitting major retailers like Home Depot, Vons, CVS, Ralphs and Dick’s Sporting Goods with stolen plastic before the victims even dry off.
De Pau’s advice to fellow surfers? “Never stash your car keys underneath the wheel. Take my key out into the water with myself.” He was able to recover some of his stolen money but the incident has left him shaken and he has now invested in a lock box.
While RATT investigators have arrested several suspects, they warned the threat is far from over. Detectives believe more victims are out there and are urging anyone with info to call the task force at (858) 627-4000.