Toy Swapped For Diamond Ring During OfferUp Meetup In Norwalk

NORWALK (CBSLA) — The public’s help is needed to identify a woman who police say swapped a toy ring for a diamond ring during an online sale meetup.

The surreptitious swap happened on July 21 at a McDonald’s in Norwalk. The owner of the diamond ring told Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies she had agreed to meet with the woman through the online marketplace OfferUp.

Do you know who this #Distractiontheft suspect is? She met with the victim in #Norwalk to purchase a diamond ring, after contacting through #OfferUp. While the victim was distracted, the suspect swapped the diamond ring with a toy ring! Any info, contact Det. Zamudio #LASD pic.twitter.com/pQdc4VwzMw

— LASD Norwalk Station (@NorwalkLASD) September 1, 2020

While the seller was distracted, the purported buyer swapped replaced the diamond ring with a toy ring.

The ring was worth $2,200, authorities said.

The thief was described as a Hispanic woman, about 5-foot-3 and 110 pounds. Surveillance video shows her carrying a large black tote purse on her shoulder, a gray V-neck T-shirt, ripped jeans, light-colored sneakers, and a black face mask with an unknown print.

Anyone with information about the woman can call sheriff’s Detective Zamudio at (562) 466-5430.