Full Notification

MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNITY ALERT
CITY of SAN MATEO POLICE DEPARTMENT
200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org

San Mateo Police have arrested Angela Walker, a 45 year-old resident of Palo Alto, on a commercial burglary after she committed a theft of diamonds from a San Mateo jewelry store. SMPD is reaching out to our local jewelers and second-hand dealers, as we believe that Walker may have committed other similar crimes.

On Thursday March 27th at about 2pm, suspect Angela Walker entered Galati Jewelers located at 35 E. 4th Avenue posing as a legitimate customer who was there to purchase a ring. She looked at several loose diamonds as well as a solitaire diamond ring. The victim clerk, a 42 year-old female, got distracted and went to the back room at which time Walker was left unattended on the floor. During this period Walker stole the solitaire ring. Shortly after, Walker bumped the hand in which the victim was holding a loose diamond. The diamond fell on the counter at which time Walker switched the real diamond with a cubic zirconia of matching size without the victim noticing. Before leaving, Walker said she would like to come back to see more diamonds, and left her contact information. The victim clerk later went to retrieve the loose diamonds and realized the diamond had been switched and the solitaire ring was missing. The clerk then contacted San Mateo Police.

Detectives confirmed the contact information was legitimate and lured Walker back to the store on 03/31/2014. Walker looked at more diamonds, and attempted to sell a suspected stolen necklace. SMPD arrested Walker and found her to be in possession of a loose cubic zirconia piece which was the same size as the diamond she was scheduled to view.

Detectives executed a search warrant for Walker's residence and vehicle, and seized jewelry items and several loose cubic zirconias with the correlating sizes written down. Detectives continuing to follow up, and seeking to determine if Walker was involved in other crimes.


Attention Jewelers and Second-Hand Dealers – we need your help!
A photo of Angela Walker is attached. We are asking jewelry store, pawn shop, and consignment store owners to see if they recognize Walker as someone who has come into their store. If Walker has been in your store and you are either missing merchandise or purchased jewelry from her, please contact Detective Ryan at (650)522-7670 or [email protected] .



SAFETY MEASURES
To help ensure you don’t become a victim of Walker or anyone else conducting the same scam please be aware of your merchandise.
• Never leave anything unattended or turn your back to the customer.
• Avoid distractions when dealing with expensive merchandise.
• Pay attention to the customers’ behavior and demeanor.
• If the customer has handled a loose stone, check the stone prior to the customer’s departure to ensure you are still in possession of the real merchandise.
• If you believe a theft has or is about to occur, you are encouraged to contact law enforcement immediately - We are here to assist you!

MEDIA FOLLOW-UP:
This suspect in the case above has been arrested. For follow-up questions regarding this incident, please contact the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.



Safety tips and other information is available at SMPD’s Public Safety Blog: www.SanMateoPD.org

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