FAIRFAX, Va. — A theft at a Fairfax grocery store is drawing attention not just for the value of what was taken, but for how it happened.
Police say the incident unfolded on March 8, 2026, at India Bazaar on Fairfax Boulevard. According to investigators, a woman approached the victim and started a conversation by asking for financial help. She then offered to sell what she claimed were valuable items — gold-colored chains, a Rolex watch, and an Apple Watch Ultra2.
Somewhere in that exchange, police say, things took a turn.
Investigators say the suspect managed to remove a Hindi “Om” emblem necklace from the victim. The necklace is valued at $23,000.
The suspect reportedly claimed to be from Pakistan, but the victim became suspicious when she couldn’t respond appropriately when spoken to in Pakistani. The victim now believes the woman may instead be of Turkish or Hungarian descent.
Police describe the suspect as a heavyset white female, between 30 and 40 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with dark hair.
After the incident, she left the area in what’s described as a dark-colored, late-model Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.
Cases like this fall under what police call “deception larceny” — where the suspect uses conversation, distraction, or a false story to gain trust and create an opening to steal.
Investigators are asking anyone who may recognize the suspect or have information about the case to contact Officer Lynch.
