Surveillance images of suspect and his vehicle. Photo: Oceanside Police Dept.
OCEANSIDE–Oceanside police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a man who stole a cell phone from a female juvenile, and attempted to lure her to his vehicle at a shopping center.
The incident occurred September 6 at a shopping center in Oceanside, authorities say.
The retail store’s surveillance video shows an unidentified man following the girl and her mother around the store, and then he took the juvenile’s cell phone from her cart. Shortly after the girl and her mom reported the lost phone to security, the man started conversing with the girl and stated he had her phone in his vehicle. Authorities believe the man was possibly attempting to lure the girl to his vehicle to retrieve the phone.
The suspect’s vehicle is described as a white hatchback, possibly a Hyundai Elantra GT.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Oceanside police Detective Nevares at (760) 435-4749.
