VANCOUVER Police on Thursday released video footage of a distraction theft that left an 88-year-old woman without two valuable family heirlooms in East Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred near Kaslo Avenue and East Hastings Street shortly after noon.
The senior was outside her residence selling PNE parking on her private property when a vehicle pulled up beside her. A woman in the back seat of the vehicle appeared to be seeking assistance. After the senior approached the vehicle, the suspect grabbed her wrist from inside the vehicle, and distracted her by talking before swapping the victim’s two gold necklaces (one with jade) with fake jewelry.
The vehicle then fled the area.
Of note, the female suspect wearing a white t-shirt was seated in the back seat with two children. The driver was a man.
The suspect vehicle is described as a dark-coloured, four-door Kia Soul.
“Police believe this incident is related to another distraction theft reported in Vancouver on Tuesday, as the suspect and vehicle descriptions are similar,” said Constable Megan Lui. “We believe there were witnesses in the area who may have seen the theft or the suspects before or after it occurred, and we are asking them to come forward.”
