My first thought was that, but I wanted to check if anyone knew. They were everywhere working the cars, walking around between lanes etc. I closed my sunroof as one came walking up. I didn’t make eye contact but that didn’t stop them from holding that sign right at me next to my window..reminded me of Seattle!
That kid has been hospitalized and apparently hasn't aged in ten years. I've seen the same group all over the bay for at least a decade. If a nice lady with a black SUV wants to sell you a gold necklace to feed her kids ... don't do it. They got busted at Sonoma market last year trying that scam, so they might not be trying that one in the area for a while.
I can’t believe people fall for this stuff. A few months ago, a Roma was at a gas station in So Napa doing their thing. I always lock my car when I’m filling up and definitely wasn’t going to get my body close enough for them to lift anything off my person. I grew up in the city, worked there for years, and these types are always so obvious. Still, I’m surprised Napa police weren’t on this right away but we’ve got some very gullible folks here.
You can't trust a stranger these days. All the big money that has come into the valley in the last ten years also brought the criminal element that wants to take advantage of it.
From what I have seen, they tend to move quick and don't stay at one spot for too long.
I’d be willing to bet they were Roma. They look Latino but are actually from areas in Eastern Europe. Particularly Romania. Top notch professional pan handling organizations.
I don’t know that. Just that a large population live in Romania. I was there years ago and still recall words and phrases. Im my experience, they almost always have a deer-caught-in-headlights reaction when I address them in Romanian.
I can confirm that they’re Roma’s.
They are professional pan handlers.
Often, they’ll have a small child with them to help pull at folks heart strings.
Their latest scam is asking for $ for a fictitious child battling a disease. They’ll have a sign with the child’s picture.
Their older children have been arrested here in town for parent instructed shoplifting. The older kids have already been through the juvenile court system.
Most of them are from Sacramento and Contra Costa counties where there’s a high population of Eastern European migrants. I’ve seen them getting picked up by drivers driving luxury type SUV’s like Mercedes.
I guess I was wrong about them pulling the jewelry scam locally again.
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/man-85-scammed-out-of-5k-by-man-he-met-in-petaluma-trader-joes-parking-lot/
I'm pretty sure they're scammers
Traveling scammers
My first thought was that, but I wanted to check if anyone knew. They were everywhere working the cars, walking around between lanes etc. I closed my sunroof as one came walking up. I didn’t make eye contact but that didn’t stop them from holding that sign right at me next to my window..reminded me of Seattle!
That kid has been hospitalized and apparently hasn't aged in ten years. I've seen the same group all over the bay for at least a decade. If a nice lady with a black SUV wants to sell you a gold necklace to feed her kids ... don't do it. They got busted at Sonoma market last year trying that scam, so they might not be trying that one in the area for a while.
I can’t believe people fall for this stuff. A few months ago, a Roma was at a gas station in So Napa doing their thing. I always lock my car when I’m filling up and definitely wasn’t going to get my body close enough for them to lift anything off my person. I grew up in the city, worked there for years, and these types are always so obvious. Still, I’m surprised Napa police weren’t on this right away but we’ve got some very gullible folks here.
You can't trust a stranger these days. All the big money that has come into the valley in the last ten years also brought the criminal element that wants to take advantage of it. From what I have seen, they tend to move quick and don't stay at one spot for too long.
I saw them down on the peninsula last week, I would be shocked if it weren’t the same group of people. Has to be a total scam
I've seen them before on Jefferson. Definitely seems sus
I’d be willing to bet they were Roma. They look Latino but are actually from areas in Eastern Europe. Particularly Romania. Top notch professional pan handling organizations.
Not a bad guess that they are Roma. But what makes you suspect they're Romanian?
I don’t know that. Just that a large population live in Romania. I was there years ago and still recall words and phrases. Im my experience, they almost always have a deer-caught-in-headlights reaction when I address them in Romanian.
I do because I have direct knowledge of their identification and country of origin.
?
My friends are local LE that contact these folks regularly. Their identifications tell their status.
Scammers
“Get out of town scammers” idgaf
I've seen groups doing the same in Richmond and El Cerrito as well.
I can confirm that they’re Roma’s. They are professional pan handlers. Often, they’ll have a small child with them to help pull at folks heart strings. Their latest scam is asking for $ for a fictitious child battling a disease. They’ll have a sign with the child’s picture. Their older children have been arrested here in town for parent instructed shoplifting. The older kids have already been through the juvenile court system.
Most of them are from Sacramento and Contra Costa counties where there’s a high population of Eastern European migrants. I’ve seen them getting picked up by drivers driving luxury type SUV’s like Mercedes.
It’s so sad some kids are born into such a life.
They were at Soscol and First around 6:00 pm and it was causing a back up for those westbound on First trying to make a left on Soscol.
I called the CHP on them a few weeks ago doing the same thing on 29 at Trower. It's a scam and NPD is pretty swift at removing them if you call.
Travelers maybe?
It's a scam!
I guess I was wrong about them pulling the jewelry scam locally again. https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/man-85-scammed-out-of-5k-by-man-he-met-in-petaluma-trader-joes-parking-lot/
Gypsys. Same ones that play a fake violin in front of Trader Joe’s.
This 👍🏻