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Vancouver police warning public after another spate of distraction thefts

This time seniors targeted in Kensington and Fraserview neighbourhoods
distraction thefts
Vancouver police are warning the public to be vigilant after another spate of distraction thefts targeting seniors in the city. File photo

Vancouver police are warning the public to be vigilant after another spate of distraction thefts targeting seniors in the city.

Between Aug. 20 and 21, three seniors in the Kensington and Fraserview neighbourhoods were targeted by a man and a woman driving a white car. In each case, the suspects stopped the car, called the victims over and tried to give them fake jewelry while subtly removing the victims’ real jewelry.

“Distraction thieves are successful because they use the element of surprise to confuse and overwhelm their victims,” media relations officer Const. Steve Addison said in a press release. “They often target elderly people or visible minorities, and in most cases the victims don’t even realize they’ve been scammed until much later.”

Vancouver police are already investigating a number of distraction thefts that have taken place this summer in East Vancouver.

Last month a 77-year-old woman was preyed upon in her own backyard near Grandview Highway and Renfrew Street. A rash of distraction thefts hit south Vancouver earlier this year with as six incidents reported to police in the span of two days.

And West Vancouver police issued a similar warning yesterday (Aug. 22) after seeing an uptick in distraction thefts in that area.

The suspects in this week’s cases are described as a South Asian woman, 30 to 35 years old, with long black hair and a South Asian man, 40 to 45 years old with short black hair. In each case they were said to be driving a white sedan or SUV.

Addison said police believe many more distraction thefts have gone unreported because the victims are either embarrassed, or simply think they’ve lost their jewelry. Police are reminding residents to remain vigilant, not let strangers into their personal space, and to call 911 immediately if they see a crime in progress.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com