Caricature artist gets robbed — but thief leaves this behind, California cops say
Police in Southern California are hoping that a robbery victim’s drawing skills can help catch the man who stole his cash.
The robbery happened on Dec. 5 after a man asked to get a portrait from a caricature artist at Riverside’s Festival of Lights shortly before midnight, Riverside police said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
But after the artist finished the sketch, the man who sat for the portrait “grabbed a money bag that belonged to the victim, which contained about $500 in cash,” police said.
The thief ran off with the cash, according to police — but he left his portrait behind.
“Do you recognize this caricature?” police asked in a Facebook sharing the image. “And no, we are not kidding…”
Authorities described the suspect as a 5-foot-1-inch man in his early 20s “with an average build, black hair and mustache.”
Police noted that the drawing “has exaggerated characteristics and features,” as would be expected of a caricature.
“Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity or of this investigation is urged to contact Detective Jeff Putnam at 951-826-2054 or jputnam@riversideca.gov,” police said.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Caricature artist gets robbed — but thief leaves this behind, California cops say."
