Purse snatches and thefts troubling Vancouver

Vancouver police are issuing public warnings following rash of purse snatchings and a separate string of thefts involving slashed tires and other intentional distractions.

Police spokesman Const. Lindsey Houghton said Monday there have been five purse snatchings in East Vancouver in the past four days:

• Thursday at 11:44 p.m. PT at East 33rd Avenue and St. Catherines Street.
• Friday at 6:04 p.m. PT in the 1200 block of East 57th Avenue.
• Friday at 6:10 p.m. PT in the 1900 block of Nanaimo Street.
• Saturday at 1:01 p.m. PT in the 3500 block of Vanness Avenue.
• Saturday at 8:04 p.m. PT in the 6400 block Beatrice St

All the victims were women aged between 29 and 55, Houghton said and all had been walking on the street or waiting at a bus stop.

In each case, the suspect approached the victim, grabbed her purse, and used either physical force or the threat of a knife. One of the victims had minor injuries from being pushed to the ground.

The suspect in all five incidents is described as a white man between the ages of 18 and 25 years, with a thin to medium build and wearing dark clothing.

Distraction thefts

Houghton also said a group of as many as four men are believed to be involved in more than two dozen so-called "distraction thefts."

The perpetrators are believed to stake out currency exchanges, bank branches or jewelry stores and follow a specific person as they leave a premises.

The most recent incident happened Thursday about 5:30 p.m. PT when a Vancouver woman was robbed of money she had just withdrawn from a bank after discovering she had a flat tire, Houghton said.

A lone male approached her, pretending to help. He then smashed one of the car’s windows and stole her purse from inside the car. The man fled in a white minivan driven by an accomplice.

Houghton said it was the 26th time in the past two years that the tire-slash method has been used during a Vancouver theft or robbery of this kind.

The suspect in this case was described as an Hispanic male, of average height, with a beard and wearing a yellow toque. Houghton said police are cautioning people to be aware of these tactics.

Flat tires are a rare occurrence, and a flat tire right after a large withdrawal from the bank or after a major purchase is suspicious and is the time to call police, he said.