2 Thieves Posing as CHP Officers Stop, Rob Driver

Two thieves posing as uniformed California Highway Patrol officers remained at large Sunday after robbing a motorist they pulled over in La Mesa, police said.

The robbery occurred about 6:25 a.m. Saturday on an open stretch of Murray Hill Road in a residential neighborhood, when a driver of a car was pulled over by two vehicles with flashing lights on their front grills, police said. The cars appeared to be black Ford Mustangs bearing emblems with the words “Highway Patrol” on the doors, police said.

The driver of one Mustang approached the motorist and requested to see his driver’s license, saying he was conducting a “routine check.” The thief wore a tan uniform and a black leather gun belt, police said.

As the motorist opened his wallet, the man grabbed it and returned to his car. The Mustangs then sped away, making off with credit cards but no money, according to La Mesa Police Lt. Al Joslyn.

The suspect who snatched the wallet was described as a slender white man between 5 feet, 9 inches and 6 feet tall and between 25 and 30 years old. He had combed-back, neck-length, dark hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. The second suspect wore light-tinted sunglasses and a tan uniform.

La Mesa Police and the CHP are investigating. Authorities said there have been no further reports of incidents of this type, but cautioned motorists to watch for the following details if pulled over:

* CHP vehicles do not have emergency lights on the front grill. CHP vehicles have traditional red, blue and yellow overhead lights and are painted black with white doors.

* CHP uniforms are tan with badges, shoulder patches and blue and gold trouser stripes; the suspects’ uniforms had badges but no shoulder patches or stripes.

* CHP officers must tell motorists why they were stopped, furnish identification cards on request and summon a supervisor if a motorist remains unconvinced of their authenticity.