A longstanding criminal practice of preying on compassion that’s plagued Vancouver for years has reared its head again in recent weeks.
Vancouver police are warning residents, specifically the elderly, of a type crime referred to as distraction theft.
The criminal playbook starts with the same, distinct calling card in virtually every instance.
A woman approaches from out of nowhere, willing to lavish complete strangers with gifts of jewelry. Physical contact is initiated through a handshake or hug.
The recipient of the hug and surprise jewelry is usually older and ends up having expensive jewelry stolen off their person within minutes.
This type of specific crime is happening with such frequency that investigators believe it’s the work of an organize crime group specifically devoted to distraction thefts.
Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said numerous distraction thefts have happened across Vancouver in recent weeks, though she couldn’t give specifics on where the thefts have occurred nor how many have taken place.
“Generally it is in the elderly that have fallen victim to this crime,” Visintin told reporters Friday. “This is a very scary situation for anyone to be in, not only are these thieves stealing expensive jewellry but they’re also stealing the memories that are attached to these pieces. That’s heartbreaking.”
The tactic taken in the recent thefts involves a getaway vehicle usually driven by a male and, in some reports, children have also been in the vehicle or have been used to create a distraction. Multiple people are involved, making suspect descriptions difficult to ascertain.
In other cases, victims report being stopped near a highway where the suspects claims a family member is in need, and offers expensive-looking jewelry as collateral for financial assistance.
The problems are compounded by the lack of video surveillance in most cases. Some victims don’t report the crimes, while those who do call police long after the fact.
Visintin’s advice is to deny anyone access to their personal space, turn down any offer of jewellry and to call police immediately.
Reports of distraction thefts go back years.
In July 2019, a 77-year-old woman was preyed upon in her backyard near Grandview Highway and Renfrew Street.
The victim was gardening when two suspects — a man and a woman — drove up in a dark, four-door SUV.
The female approached and repeatedly insisted that the elderly woman accept several pieces of costume jewelry. The suspect overwhelmed the woman, got in her personal space and confused her to the point of being able to steal a gold bracelet off the elderly woman’s wrist.
A rash of distraction thefts hit south Vancouver earlier in 2019, as six incidents were reported to police in the span of two days in late March. Two people were arrested in those cases, and the methods used and age groups targeted were similar.
Ten different reports of wallets or purses being stolen on the SkyTrain system happened in the summer of 2018, while a Roma crime group was linked to a number of similar thefts in 2017.
Visintin was asked if investigators believe the same Roma crime group is behind the recent spate.
“There’s no evidence in saying yes or no in this case,” Visintin responded.
Investigators are asking anyone with information to call the VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
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