An 88-year-old woman in East Vancouver fell victim to a distraction theft, as captured on surveillance video.
The incident occurred on July 29 at around 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of East 41st Avenue and Knight Street. The elderly woman was walking with her walker when she was approached by a man and a woman.
The man, who appeared to be in his 30s, distracted the woman by asking for directions while the woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, snuck up behind her and stole her wallet from her purse.
The victim did not realize her wallet was missing until she returned home. By then, the thieves had already used her credit cards to make purchases at a nearby convenience store.
The Vancouver Police Department is now seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspects. The man is described as having a medium build and short dark hair, while the woman is described as having a slim build and long dark hair.
This is not the first time a distraction theft has occurred in the area. In fact, there have been several similar incidents reported in the past few months.
The VPD is reminding the public, especially the elderly, to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times. They also advise against carrying large amounts of cash or valuables in public.
Anyone with information about this incident or the suspects is urged to contact the VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
