Vancouver Police release video of suspect responsible for a string of purse thefts in Downtown
Darpan News Desk Vancouver Police, 10 Mar, 2023 06:03 PM
Vancouver Police are releasing video of recent purse thefts in highly populated businesses in the downtown core to illustrate how easily this crime can happen.
The following incidents have been reported since January, and investigators believe that the same person is responsible for all:
One victim placed her purse on the back of her chair while eating at a downtown restaurant near Robson and Nicola streets. When she noticed it was missing, the suspect had fled.
While in the lobby of a hotel near Waterfront Road and Burrard Street, another victim had her purse placed on the table beside her when a man took it without her noticing.
A victim hung her purse under a scarf on the chair beside her. The suspect dropped his backpack on her purse and then took her purse at the same time he picked up his backpack. He took the victim’s wallet and then put her purse back on the chair.
While eating at a busy restaurant on Robson Street, the suspect stole a victim’s purse that was on the bench beside her. It contained a passport, ID, and money.
“Sadly, purse thefts are not an uncommon occurrence,” says Constable Tania Visintin. “We want to make the public aware, and ask them to be more mindful when and where they put down their belongings.”
The VPD offers the following tips:
keep your purse and belongings close to your body so they aren’t easily grabbed
when in a restaurant or other public area, do not leave your purse draped over the back of your chair
when shopping, do not leave your purse unattended in the change room or shopping cart
carry keys and identifying documents in your pocket, so if your purse is stolen thieves won’t have your house keys
if possible, do not carry large amounts of money with you
Upon arrival, officers located a male victim in his twenties. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The initial investigation suggests that this incident was not random.
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