By Gina Yarbrough
Lemon Grove, CA–Two men have been arrested in connection with several theft and fraud incidents targeting victims in Lemon Grove and across San Diego County, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Lemon Grove Sheriff’s detectives have been investigating a series of theft and fraud cases beginning in May in which victims were targeted at Wells Fargo Bank branches and ATMs throughout Lemon Grove.
In each incident, the victims were approached while conducting routine banking transactions. They reported distraction techniques that caused them to momentarily lower their guard, including unsolicited assistance or attempts to draw their attention away from their cards. During these brief interactions, victims had their legitimate debit cards secretly exchanged with similar cards that did not belong to them. After the card was switched, cash was withdrawn from multiple ATMs before victims realized their cards had been replaced.
At least five victims in Lemon Grove, two of whom were elderly, were defrauded using these methods. Documented losses range from $100 to more than $2,700 per case. Based on confirmed withdrawals, the known dollar amount stolen from Lemon Grove victims is approximately $5,990.
Sheriff’s detectives linked the cases to approximately 15 additional incidents across San Diego County that are being investigated by the San Diego, Chula Vista, and Carlsbad Police Departments. A fraud liaison with Wells Fargo Bank also reported approximately 15 similar cases in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Sheriff’s detectives identified 40-year-old Sergio Romero and 31-year-old Franklin Florez. Both suspects are residents of Los Angeles County and are believed to travel throughout Southern California to commit similar crimes involving victims at bank branches and ATMs, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies and detectives partnered with the San Diego Fugitive Task Force to locate the suspects through coordinated surveillance at multiple Wells Fargo locations due to repeated activity.
“Automated License Plate Reader information played a critical role in confirming the suspect vehicle’s movements and providing investigators with timely direction. This technology allowed personnel to locate both suspects efficiently and prevent additional victims from being targeted,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office stated in a release.
On Aug. 25, detectives learned Romero had committed another fraud-related offense in Lemon Grove that matched the pattern identified during the investigation. Detectives conducted targeted surveillance based on the new information and located Romero shortly afterward. He was taken into custody without incident.
Romero was booked on multiple charges related to the fraud investigation, including elder fraud, robbery, identity theft, grand theft, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
Florez was located with Romero and taken into custody without incident. Florez was booked for robbery, identity theft, and conspiracy.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office encourages community members to take precautions when using ATMs. Shield the keypad while entering the PIN number, stay aware of distraction attempts and verify your card before leaving the ATM. If anything feels suspicious, cancel the transaction and walk away.
Monitoring bank accounts and activating alerts can help identify unauthorized activity early.
