RICHMOND RCMP on Thursday alerted the public to potential distraction thefts following an arrest in Richmond.

On February 6 shortly after 10:15 p.m. police responded to the 8300-block of Lansdowne Road for a reported theft in progress. The complainant reported that a man had stolen a woman’s phone and that the suspect was being held by two Good Samaritans. Richmond RCMP frontline officers quickly arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody.

In speaking with the victim, officers learned she had just returned to her vehicle when a woman knocked on her car window and pointed out the victim’s tire had been punctured. When the victim exited to check the tire, a male approached her and allegedly grabbed her purse from the front seat. The victim told police she verbally confronted the suspect, at which point he dropped the purse and started to run. The Good Samaritans intervened and called 9-1-1.

Marco Bryans Neyra Sanchez has been charged with one count of theft.

“We have seen similar distraction thefts in the past escalate into a series of incidents. While an arrest has been made, we believe other suspects may still be at large,” said Cpl. Adriana O’Malley, Richmond RCMP Media Relations Officer. “If someone approaches you at your vehicle, we urge you to remain cautious and vigilant. Keep your vehicle locked and assess the situation from inside seeking help from a trusted source if needed. If you feel unsafe, call 9-1-1.”

She added: “We commend the Good Samaritans who came to the victim’s assistance and promptly called 9-1-1. Their swift action was instrumental in enabling our frontline officers’ quick response.”

Based on the investigation, Richmond RCMP believes that additional individuals may have been involved in the offence. Richmond RCMP is asking anyone who may have information or witnessed this incident to contact them at 604-278-1212 and quote file number 2025-4135.