Two groups of tourists visiting a United States beach had their belongings – including their passports – swiped in brazen smash-and-grabs within 10 minutes of arriving.
A family of tourists from Malta were reportedly seen calling police as they stood distraught in the Ocean Beach parking lot. It came after their rental car was vandalized, leaving broken glass strewn across the ground.
In the video, a woman can be heard saying they were there for 10 minutes when thieves “took everything we had — passports, cameras, phones, iPads, laptops, luggage — everything.” She said it was the family’s second day in the city.
She said the incident left them thinking they ought to give up and go home. The clip was shared by Matty Lopez on social media site Instagram.
Just five minutes after speaking with her, Lopez found a separate of tourists who had their car’s back windshield broken, he said in a separate video. According to the New York Post, Lopez told the camera he did not believe the incident was isolated.
He then asked another group what had happened. A man replied that while they were away, thieves took their luggage and a backpack.
Commenters on the video noted the apparent rising crime rates in Bay City. One said: “Why don’t people learn not to visit California?”
Another added: “Sad you can’t turn your back for one [second].” While a third said: “You can’t leave anything in your car anymore.”
In August, the San Francisco Police Department reported nearly 1,670 car break-ins, contributing to nearly 10,000 thefts from vehicles.
