Dublin: Juror’s car burglarized for $1,200

DUBLIN — Jury service isn’t a well-paying job, but one juror recently ended up $1,200 poorer after she failed to secure her cellphone while reporting for duty, police say.

The woman briefly left her cellphone unattended in her vehicle, and was in such a hurry to get into the East County Hall of Justice she didn’t remember whether she locked her car. When she returned to her vehicle the phone was gone, police say.

Despite the theft, the woman went back inside and completed her jury duty for the day. When she came back home she learned someone had stolen her $1,000 phone and transferred himself $200 on Venmo.

Police say they’re tracking the suspect but no charges have yet been filed. The case is a good reminder to lock and hide valuables in your car, even in a location frequented by police and a few yards away from the county jail.

The incident occurred in October, but remains under investigation. Since then, courts across California have warned potential jurors of a much more pervasive scam; fraudsters who call people and pretend to be court employees, then demand payment for failing to appear for jury duty. Officials have made it clear that court employees will never contact absent jurors over the phone or email.