A ruthless daylight theft in Reseda, caught entirely on surveillance video, has sparked outrage after a nursing student was violently robbed of her $4,000 life savings at a car wash. The shocking footage shows the suspect using a deceptive tactic, pretending to clean his own car while waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The victim, identified only as Anahita, had just withdrawn the money from a nearby bank on Thursday. Police believe the thieves, operating out of a stolen white Jeep, may have been “bank juggers” who followed her from the bank, a common tactic used by criminals to target customers carrying large amounts of cash.
The Crime:
- The Setup: Anahita was vacuuming her car when the white Jeep pulled alongside her. The thief, allegedly pretending to use the car wash services, waited for the victim to be distracted.
- The Snatch: A man quickly darted into Anahita’s car, snatching her purse. He returned minutes later to steal her wallet, which contained the $4,000 cash she had saved to help her parents immigrate to the U.S. from Iran.
- The Violence: When Anahita attempted to stop the robber, he aggressively shoved her to the ground before speeding away. She was left with painful scrapes and bruises.
The second-year nursing student, who works full-time as a caregiver, stated the theft was devastating to her sense of safety and crushed her financial plan.