Woman tries to buy $4K watch with stolen card

Authorities were on the lookout March 8 for a woman who tried to use a credit card stolen in Encinitas to buy a $4,000 watch from a jewelry store in the Westfield UTC mall.

The victim told sheriff’s officials her purse was taken from her cart while she was shopping at a Home Goods store in Encinitas Feb. 17, according to a sheriff’s department statement.

The victim cancelled her credit card shortly afterward, unbeknown to the woman who attempted to use it to buy a pricy watch from Ben Bridge Jewelers in the mall in University City later that day, authorities said. The attempt was captured on surveillance video.

A description of the woman was not immediately available, but the sheriff’s department has made public images from the store.

Anyone with information on the suspect’s identity or whereabouts was asked to call sheriff’s Detective Heather Bruton at (760) 966-3500, or Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.