By Neena Strichart
Back in the ’80s I was a fur consultant at Buffums Department Store. It was a great job. I got to play dress up in pretty fur coats all day and had the opportunity to meet some fascinating people.
Down a short hall from my department were a fur storage vault on the left and the store’s security/loss prevention department on the right. I got a kick out of being so close to the security office because they would bring all the shoplifters and other unsavory individuals through my otherwise elegant fur salon in order to do their security business. What a contrast. One particular day, the officer on duty went rushing past me with a bad guy in tow. Yep, they caught a peeper in the ladies dress department— and, on second glance, I realized that I knew the pervert. I don’t know who was more uncomfortable, he or I, but son-of-a-gun if it wasn’t my ex-husband’s co-worker’s soon-to-be ex-husband. Confusing, isn’t it? Besides my having this loose connection to him, he had been the jeweler who designed one of my wedding rings (it’s a long story). Anyway, what a weird deal.
Why, do you ask, does this story come to mind? Well ,we received a press release from the Lakewood Sheriff’s Department and it looks as if they need our help with finding another clothing store peeper. Take a look at the details below and give the Sheriff’s Department a call if you have details that may help them with this case.
A victim in the dressing room of a clothing store got quite a surprise last week! While she was trying on clothes at a local shopping mall, she saw a hand reach underneath her dressing room door and point a camera phone at her. The victim grabbed the camera cell phone and took it away from the suspect. The suspect yelled through the door, demanding the victim give back the phone, but the victim refused and screamed for help. The suspect made several attempts to break open the dressing room door, but was unsuccessful and crawled underneath the door into the dressing room with the victim. The victim continued screaming for help. The suspect attacked the victim, and they physically struggled for the cell phone. The suspect gained control of the cell phone and began to crawl out of the dressing room door with it.
Still yelling for help, the victim tried to hold onto the suspect, but just as someone came to her aid, the suspect broke free of the victim’s grasp and escaped underneath the dressing room door. He ran out of the store with the cell phone in an unknown direction.
Anyone with information about this crime or the suspect is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lakewood Station at (562) 623-3500.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website lacrimestoppers.org.
Footage of the suspect entering the store is available on a compact disc. For a copy, contact Detective Rudd at Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, (562) 623-3500.
