Surveillance video shows pickpocket crew targeting victims in SF's Chinatown

Pickpocketing incidents in Chinatown are rising, and police warn residents and visitors to stay alert. Surveillance video shows a coordinated trio targeting unsuspecting victims, with two people acting as lookouts while another reaches into a victim’s bag and removes items within seconds. Police say the group is linked to multiple thefts, including a case involving $4,000 in valuables. Victims may not notice the theft until later, sometimes after receiving fraud alerts. Police urge preventive measures such as wearing bags in front, keeping valuables in front pockets, and remaining aware in crowded areas and on public transportation. Officers note that recovery is possible in some cases, but preventing loss is best.

"Newly released surveillance video from the San Francisco Police Department shows a trio working together to target unsuspecting victims. In the footage, two people act as lookouts while another reaches into a victim's bag, taking items within seconds. Police say the group is linked to multiple thefts, including one case where a victim lost $4,000 worth of valuables. Officers say the thefts can happen so quietly that victims often do not realize their belongings are gone until much later."

""They pulled my hair to get like a distraction and then I turned away. I think that's the point that they help another person take something from my bag," said Fay, who described being targeted months ago while riding a bus. Fay said she did not immediately realize anything had been taken until she received fraud alerts on her phone. "Someone used my card to run in Walgreens. So I was like, how could that happen? I have my card with me. And then I look at my bag, it was like, oh, it's gone," she said."

"Police are urging people to take preventive steps, including wearing backpacks or crossbody bags in front, keeping valuables in front pockets and staying aware of surroundings - especially in crowded areas and on public transportation. "It's very unlikely you'd get your stuff back. But in this circumstance, we were able to recover a lot of stolen property. It's best to not lose it in the first place," said SFPD Capt. Chris Del Gandio."

Read at ABC7 San Francisco