Distraction thefts at Capilano Mall prompts police warning

Protect Yourself: Police Issue Warning About Distraction Thefts at Capilano Mall

North Vancouver RCMP are warning the public after two cases of distraction thefts in the community.

On January 26, a woman was sitting in her car at the Capilano Mall parking lot when a man came and diverted her attention to the car’s supposedly flat tire. As she came out to check on the tire, a second man entered her vehicle and took her wallet. The woman confronted the men but they ran off. She could only provide a description of the first male to the police, who is described as a ‘foreign male’. On March 3, a woman was loading her groceries into her car at the Walmart parking lot at 925 Marine Drive when a man approached and diverted her attention to her car’s brakes.

Meantime, another man stole her wallet from the car. Later, $1,600 was withdrawn from her bank accounts and $14,000 was racked up on her credit cards. The suspect is described as having darker skin, approximately 40-50 years old, black hair, wearing a dark coloured hoodie and jeans.  In both cases, the target location was a parking lot and the victim’s attention was diverted while the suspect stole the victims’ purse, wallet or cash, said Cst. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP.

“The suspects appear to be targeting vulnerable people due to their age and that’s a concern for us. Our investigators are making every effort to track the suspects, but we also rely on the community to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”

Distraction thefts continue to be a public safety issue in Vancouver, says the Vancouver Police Department. Thieves typically target elderly people in residential neighbourhoods. They tend to surprise or distract the victims to steal jewelry, money or other items of value. In Vancouver, distraction thefts increase during the summer months. They can be difficult to investigate, as the thieves are usually long gone before the victim realizes what has happened.

How to protect yourself

Don’t let strangers into your personal space or let them touch or hug you.

Remain vigilant at all times – even when watering your garden or simply going for a walk.

If you feel like you are being targeted by a thief for a distraction theft, yell or make a lot of noise to attract attention.

If you feel someone is acting suspiciously, call 9-1-1. If you can see the license plate on the car belonging to that person, memorize it or write it down, and give it to police.

If you have been the victim of a distraction theft, call 911 immediately. If you wait to call police, the chances of police finding the suspects decrease significantly.