For some Pacific Beach surfers, the worst part of a session right now is not the closeouts, it is the walk back to the car. Local residents say a crew of thieves is hanging back from the shoreline, watching who paddles out, then swooping in on the spots where surfers stash their keys before heading into the water.
The result, they say, has been a run of stolen cars and looted trunks that has people rethinking those quick dawn patrols and trading notes in parking lots about how to keep keys and wallets out of the wrong hands.
Police data and local reports
According to the San Diego Police Department, there have been eight reports tied to this pattern since Jan. 1, 2025. As CBS 8 reports, those cases include two vehicle thefts this month on Pacific View Drive. In one of the incidents, the crime was logged as a “theft from a vehicle,” even as overall reported crime in the broader area has fallen compared with the previous reporting year.
How thieves are working the lineup
Neighbors and surfers told CBS 8 that the suspects do not exactly look like cat burglars. They described people who “act casually” while facing the ocean, apparently watching which surfers leave cars and then disappear into the water. Once the coast is literally clear, the thieves move to the hiding spots where keys get tucked away.
Surfers in the area say they are changing their routines in response. Dylan Yuska told the station that he now hides a spare key under a tire wrapped in a napkin, while others interviewed recommended slipping a key into a wetsuit pocket rather than leaving it near the vehicle. It is a patchwork of fixes that shows a neighborhood trying to adapt faster than patrols can circle the block.
Not just a Pacific Beach problem
Similar tactics have been showing up farther up the coast. The Los Angeles Times documented an alleged theft ring that used hidden keys to steal cars, then reportedly went deeper by accessing victims’ phones and online accounts. That investigation underscored that key stashes in the sand or on the tire are not just a quirky surf tradition, they can be a gateway to bigger losses.
How surfers can protect themselves
Locals say there are still ways to enjoy the waves without giving thieves a free ride. Common advice includes slipping a key into a wetsuit pocket or using a valet key that will unlock the door but not start the engine. Surfers also suggest leaving valuables at home or with a trusted friend on shore and locking anything that has to stay in the car out of sight in the trunk.
Many regulars at the beach now bring a waterproof pouch for phones and cards, or coordinate with friends so that at least one person is on land watching the pile of gear. And if you spot someone lingering near parked cars or paying more attention to key stashes than to the surf, locals say to note what you can and report it to the San Diego Police Department.
