Around noon Aug. 1, 2007, the Selmers from Reading, Pa., halfway through a six-day vacation at the Oceanfront, decided to take a dip.
The family of five headed for the surf, leaving towels and totes in the sand about 20 feet from the water's edge near 29th Street.
Jeanette Selmer spent about 10 minutes in the ocean before heading back. When she reached the towels, she started waving frantically to her husband, Greg. The family's stuff had disappeared.
Sixty-nine times last year, beachgoers reported their belongings stolen, not a huge number given the resort's summer crowds, but it can sure ruin a day.
Virginia Beach was the leader among three major mid-Atlantic beach resorts in 2007 for what police call "beach blanket larcenies."
Sixty-nine was more than double the reported 32 thefts in Ocean City, Md., and far more than the 42 handled in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The crime is sporadic, the thieves opportunists, and the setting is crowded, chaotic and stretches for miles. Also, most beachgoers, trying to escape the worries of daily life, have their guard down.
"People come to the beach to relax, not to worry about crime," said Officer Greg May, who has worked the Oceanfront for nine years. "They put their stuff down on a towel with the mindset that nothing bad is going to happen."
Most people whose stuff is stolen never get it back. But every so often, a thief gets sloppy, and cops, like May, catch a break.
One hour after Jeanette Selmer's discovery, and about 650 feet south, the Kerney family, visiting from a suburb of Cleveland, arrived at the beach.
Michelle Kerney, 52, and her daughter laid out towels on the fringe of the crowd. Her son put down his black-and-white Adidas backpack, and the family headed for the ocean. Ten minutes later, Kerney's son went to get his towel from the backpack, which was gone. So was his wallet.
To Michelle Kerney, it almost seemed as if someone was watching them.
Twenty minutes later and four blocks north, a 34-year-old Maryland man reported his credit cards and a resident alien green card missing.
Another twenty minutes after that, Mary Fernandez, 22, of Wilbraham, Mass., was swimming with her fiance 11 blocks south, near 20th Street.
"We left our beach towels not even like five minutes," she said. "Nobody saw anything, and there were people everywhere."
They lost a camera and some clothes.
There was more that day. A couple in their 30s from Ontario, Canada, lost passports and $200 near 19th Street; a Newport News teenager lost clothes, car keys and his driving learner's permit two blocks away, on 21st Street.
As police recorded those reports, they knew they had a problem. July had seen 20 victims. Now, eight more on the first day of August.
Police had the thinnest of leads, a possible suspect described by victims and other beachgoers. He was a skinny white man in his 20s wearing a white swimsuit with a red stripe.
For almost a week, the trail was cold. The spectral figure in the swim trunks had seemed to vanish.
On Aug. 7, Shaela Wolf, 22, called police to report that her things, including a credit card, had been stolen off the beach at 20th Street. When she called to cancel the card, she was told it had just been used at a Virginia Beach ABC store.
Police looked at the store's surveillance tape, and there was a grainy image of a skinny white man in a white suit with a red stripe buying $300 in booze with the stolen credit card.
"There was not a doubt in my mind it was him," said May, who was working the case. But he had to prove it.
Although the liquor store clerk hadn't questioned how a man could be Shaela Wolf, she did ask for his driver's license and keyed into the computer the last four digits. They appeared on the receipt.
May ran those numbers and found two possible matches. One looked like the suspect, but the photo was old. He got an updated picture from the DMV. It looked like the guy on the ABC video.
May made a "Wanted" flier using a still image off the video and posted it around the precinct and the area.
The next day, two police summer interns got a special assignment. Rebekah Davis, 20, and Christina Scibelli, 21, were stationed in a room on the eighth floor of the 21st Street Holiday Inn with a commanding view of the beach. Their job was to scan the area from the balcony, looking for the suspect.
Less than an hour later, the spiky hair of a young man standing on the beach near the boardwalk caught Davis' attention. He looked like the guy on the flier. Scibelli used binoculars to follow him as he started walking south, zigzagging through towels on the beach.
The man's position was called in to the precinct and officers trained remote-controlled beach surveillance cameras on him. May was among those watching.
He saw the man walk along the sand near the waterline and noticed that he seemed to be making eye contact with someone. The camera panned out. Two men were working as a team.
While the original suspect was keeping an eye on the people in the water, the new guy was looking at the blankets.
The police watched the new man grab a beach bag containing a Sirius satellite radio and speakers.
They arrested Brian Leffler, 26, of Virginia Beach and Christopher Parron, 25, of Chesapeake, the guy on the flier.
The pair ran their operation out of a room in a 21st Street hotel that Leffler's family owned. From the room and the men's cars, police said they recovered about $5,000 worth of stolen goods. Ten victims got their property back.
Police tied the suspects to 25 crimes and earlier this year, Parron and Leffler pleaded guilty to grand larceny and credit card fraud. They were sentenced to a year in prison and told to pay victims a total of $6,300 in restitution.
The duo were off the beach, but thefts continued. Two days after Parron and Leffler were arrested, a sailor reported his gym bag and wallet stolen off the beach at 19th Street. Days later, a woman lost a purse loaded with credit cards and a diamond tennis bracelet.
By the time the beach season ended, 18 more beach-blanket larcenies would be reported.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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"Virginia Beach was the leader..."
We're number one! We're number...one. We're number one? We're...oh crap.
crime or waves?????
This story is about theft at the ocean front, not about the waves and parking. I grew up in Va. Beach, and relocated to the Outer Banks 6 years ago. You rarely hear about this kind of theft here on the beaches, or on the Outer Banks period. I will never move back to Va. Beach, and the crime rate is the number one reason why. And for the poters that were complaining about the waves and parking, the waves and the parking is much much better than Va. Beach!
Why would you be at Va Beach anyway?
Head to the Outer Banks where you can avoid all this mess.
Where Would You Leave Your Valuables Laying Around?
Would you leave your wallet lying in the middle of Times Square and walk away expecting it to be there when you get back? How about Disney World? Vegas?
Come on people. If you are dumb enough to take valuables to the beach, then you must STAY WITH THEM. If you drop your valuables ANYWHERE in public and walk away, you DESERVE to have your property taken.
Maybe, back in the "good old days" you could leave all sorts of valuables on the beach and walk away without having to worry about theft. Frankly, I'm 46 years old and I remember when I was a kid we used to LEAVE OUR VALUABLES IN THE ROOM when we went to the beach.
As for the trolls, well, they are a permanent fixture on the Internet. Every chat room. Every message board. Every forum you visit has a handful of sad pathetic people who have nothing better to do than smear feces on everything they touch. Ignore them and they go away.
It's amazing
No, it's amazingly stupid to take valuables to a beach or any other place and leave them unattended. Can you picture the woman telling the cop she's been robbed? Officer, I mean like, I was just gone for about 10 minutes, and like, when I came back I was like, robberd my diamond bracelet, and wallet filled with credit cards are like, gone. I've been robbed. Lady, you were robbed of common sense before you ever got to Va Beach.
Wait till we get light rail
Wait till we get light rail forced down our throats. Then we'll have gangs of unsupervised teens roaming the beach from as far away as Norfolk.
I'll Give you...
I'll give you Hatteras waves, but unless there is a hurricane no one sees any waves, so we can argue what’s better a 2.5 foot wave or a 3 foot wave but what’s the point. It’s the east coast, surfing here is a joke. And maybe those people didn't want you on their property. They pay a lot to live there, mind your business and they mind theirs. The Outer Banks are the most over rated beaches. It’s a 2 hours drive for the same thing that is 15 minutes away at the North End or Croatan.
Local you say Skoops?
"I’m sorry I have been to Sandbridge and the Outer Banks many times and I have never been impressed. Croatan is the best beach in my opinion, if you can find parking. And Myrtle Beach? Really? I wonder if any of you commentors have ever been there. Last time I went the water was infested with sea lice and the streets lined with more crappy stores then VB."
First...sea lice happens on all beaches. Especially VB in the summer. Second, your not impressed with these beaches yet you comment on the qlality of waves? You talking about outer banks waves? Croatan is your choice /Last time I surfed there, a guy followed me with a video camera. That really happened. When I helped a neighbor pick up trash they acted mad at me for helping. The waves are not comparable to the OBX, nor is the beach. As for Myrtle Beach, get real, it's better.
"Surfer Dude"
Ha-ha, it's the beach man, what else do you expect to find there a book club, modern art aficionados, wine and cheese parties? Not to mention there is only a small portion you can actually surf at, which is a shame. And rude people? I would like to know what it is you do exactly to make so many people hate you. If you are anything in person like you are on these boards, I guess I can see why. Your only valid point is parking, but that just controls the crowed. Get there early, get a parking space.
you have to have your wallet down there
You have to have your wallet down there so the police know who to issue the ticket to. For what you may ask? Well for drinking out of a glass bottle (even infants), throwing a frisbee or ball or burping too loudly. The cops are busy enforcing those rules but cant deter petty thefts.
Skoops88
I'm more than a local, I'm a native. I spent my time at Croatan in my youth. I grew tired of the "surfer dude" mentality, the lack of parking and the fact the local residents hated us. It's certainly not a place I'd take my family...
Locals???
People call themselves "locals" but if you were truly a local you would know that there is plenty of "local beach in Croatan and the North End, I haven't been to the tourist trap "Ocean Front" to actually go to the beach in 15 years.
There is no parking, no waves and really no sand, so why would a local even comment on it when we have perfectly good beaches right to the north and south of streets 1-40. I’m sorry I have been to Sandbridge and the Outer Banks many times and I have never been impressed. Croatan is the best beach in my opinion, if you can find parking. And Myrtle Beach? Really? I wonder if any of you commentors have ever been there. Last time I went the water was infested with sea lice and the streets lined with more crappy stores then VB.
Our beach... Dear Mayor Meyera
I just have to say that I have lived here for 30+ years, and our oceanfront is embarrassing. I just rode my bike down there this weekend. The 'boardwalk' is junked up with the 4 wheeled ''bike-cars'' full of foreigner's that move so slow it is impossible to ride the bike path. If you try to go around, you can be ticketed by a cop for riding your bike on the boardwalk...by a cop who is also riding his bike on the boardwalk. It is a bad system down there with the cross traffic of bikes, skaters, pedestrians all going in different directions, many of them drunk. The cheap carnival next to the pier is embarrassing...what a joke.
Our beach seems dirty, junky, and tacky--out for selling trinkets and getting hooked up while drunk.
Virginia Beach is no place for families.
Mayor, PLEASE, go to the beach, TRY to enjoy yourself as a commoner would. Once you have done this, you will know why we are all traveling to Sandbridge, or Nags Head, or Myrtle Beach.
Oh brother...
Well it looks like an all out war of words with some of the posters here(once again!). In my humble opinion, Mr. Fab and Orion are what are known as "trolls" in which they spout their negative, spiteful, and somewhat derogatory messages/comments on this board. I agree: if they don't like the oceanfront, then do us a favor and stay away. I've lived here all my life as well, and I stay away due to the crowds. However, when I do go on occasion I am able to find parking quite easily and have had no problem with rude people or tourists. Like it or not, tourists bring in the bucks! Yes it's not a good idea to bring your valuables and leave them un-attended. Hopefully people will learn from this. As for traveling further south, well with the rising gas prices forget about it! And I agree that crime happens at all resort cities. I would like to see the facts and figures from other places. I also find it interesting that the low-lifes who committed these cowardly acts, ran their operation out of a hotel owned by one of their family members...you have to wonder who else may have been involved or at least wonder if Mom/Dad(whomever was the owner)didn't just turn a blind eye. It would be in
Vulnerable Area
No surprise here. The close proximity of skid-row trailer parks and public housing to the ocean front, coupled with opportunist out of state thieves is the problem. It's no surprise that the high rate of theft is continuing to tarnish the ocean front's reputation. Virginia Beach cannot prohibit garbage from entering the city, Waterside has the same problem. The smart thing to do is to leave valuables locked up in the hotel room. Police need to concentrate enforcement efforts in the widest hit areas. Maybe setting up a sting operation by placing a GPS tracking device on vulnerable items is the key.
Thieves at the beach
Yes, it goes without reason not to bring valuables to the beach. But one thing I've always done is to seek out a family or a couple close by, and ask them to keep an eye on my things when I'm going in the water. Not everyone is honest, but for 25 years it's worked for me.
re: Good job VBPD
elsie-eye wrote:
While it's not the smartest thing in the world to bring valuables to the beach, how about we focus on the great job the police did by taking this seriously and catching these two little scumbags?
You are correct, elsie! Good job to the VBPD on this one. Nothing will drive the masses away than poor security and crime at a vacation destination.
A Lost Soul
I grew up in Virginia Beach and I've visited many, many beaches in my lifetime. Unfortunately for the locals, VB has gone lame. I realized what was happening when I got a ticket 25-years ago for surfing an empty beach at 8 am, and when the National Guard invaded the oceanfront in 1989.
I used to defend my hometown, but the horizon was brighter and the waves were better the day I decided to leave. Take out the Jew Mom and VB will lose its soul.
Good job VBPD
While it's not the smartest thing in the world to bring valuables to the beach, how about we focus on the great job the police did by taking this seriously and catching these two little scumbags?
In time
wait tell the end of the summer when gas is over $5.00 a gallon.we will see who likes virginia beach then and who still wants to drive to the south for something better
squirrelly
I lived in Virginia Beach for 15 years, graduated from Green Run High School (prior to its Gang Run status). I am also a Hampton Roads native, so I've seen the various incarnations of the Oceanfront. It's never been what one would call a resort.
When I finally struck out on my own, I saw what was happening and left for good. I live in Chesapeake now and for all its faults, it is light years ahead of Virginia Beach as far as laid back living. The only time I go Virginia Beach is to my "Little" paradise and the route there is all country roads.
When anyone comes from the home office (in the Midwest) they HAVE to go to the Oceanfront. They always walk away feeling slighted and comment that it looks more like a tourist trap rather than a resort.
re: chair, mini cooler, towel, car keys, book
Mr. Fab wrote:
HEY ORION! You forgot to mention that you bring the current issue of the New Republic to read and that you have that radio tuned to Rush! :)
NO WAY!! No time for that right-wing stuff, I'm catching sweet waves!
And STOP talking about that other beach to the south; you don't want the whole area to find out about this "Little" treasure!
chair, mini cooler, towel, car keys, book
Who brings lotsa cash and passports to the beach, anyway? Ah, Canadians...so trusting...or stupid.
HEY ORION! You forgot to mention that you bring the current issue of the New Republic to read and that you have that radio tuned to Rush! :)
Some people....
You have crime everywhere, so use some common sense people, but the ones who really get me are the previous idiots posting their comments. If you don't like the beach, then don't go, but why post your negative comments? Your life must stink, so why do we have to hear about it? I live at the beach, love the beach, and won't let a couple of idiots who like to take advantage of people ruin it for me. Maybe you need to revisit the beach, because it is actually a place that during the day, has gotten rid of the filth and the only people I see being rude are Orion and the other idiot, which I am glad to hear, don't like our beach anyway.
are you that stupid
who brings credit cards with them to the beach? what can you buy?? every one knows that the only thing you bring with them are things that you don't mind getting ruined - heck even the book you bring is something you don't mind getting sun tan lotion on. The first rule at the beach.... bring nothing that if it gets lost or wet you can easily replace.. leave everything else in the room. another reason to go to the nice beaches of florida. You don't have to worry about that kind of stuff. Down there you can even leave your chair and towel out while you go back for lunch it will still be there when you get back.
Ditto on the filth, rude
Ditto on the filth, rude etc., etc.....
Why in the world would people bring anything of value to the beach? Towel, suntan lotion, six pack of drinks and a $10 radio...thats the most they would have gotten from me if I decided to ever return to the beach...1978 was my last visit and the gunk and muck chased me away forever..
Yech!
Beach Is Number 1
Now we see that VAB is Number 1 in another catagory, Thefts of peoples valuables while they are trying to enjoy their self while at the beach. Yes, anyoe leaving their valuables unattended are dumb, but this is a false fallacy people seem to have when beach-going that whatever they bring to the beach is safe. The thief is always lurking to snatch up
any unattended valuables.
Commonality to this article, Tourists
What is happening here is a complete lack of common sense. I hazard to say these people aren't victims; not with the actions described in the article. Would they leave a purse or wallet on a car seat with the windows down? Who the hell brings a purse full of credit cards and a diamond bracelet to the beach? In my 41 years of beach going, I've never had anything stolen, why? All I take is a cheap watch, radio and car keys. Everything else is double locked in the car.
Maybe VAB should have a beach-going tutorial available to the tourists. I'm not defending the scumbags who do this, but please people use some common freaking sense.
Then again, I stay the HELL away from the oceanfront; it's full of rude people, filth and has a tourist trap feeling I hate. There are much better beaches in Virginia and better beaches in North and South Carolina.