A number of purses have been stolen in Vancouver's downtown core, and police are reminding the public to be vigilant about their belongings.
Since January, Vancouver police have received reports of a string of incidents involving purse thefts in busy areas and businesses.
Two thefts involved the victims eating at a restaurant near Robson Street. One victim placed her purse on the back of her chair while eating at a restaurant near Robson and Nicola streets. When she noticed it was missing, the suspect had already fled, according to the VPD.
A second victim was eating at a busy restaurant on Robson Street when the suspect stole her purse, which was on the bench beside her and contained a passport, ID, and money.
Another theft took place in the lobby of a hotel near Waterfront Road and Burrard Street. The victim had placed her purse on the table beside her when a man took it without her noticing.
In a fourth incident detailed by local police, the victim hung her purse under a scarf on the chair beside her. The suspect dropped his backpack on her purse and then took her purse at the same time that he picked up his backpack. He later placed the purse back on the chair but after taking the victim's wallet.
The incidents are under investigation and Vancouver police believe that the same person is responsible for all of the thefts.
“Sadly, purse thefts are not an uncommon occurrence,” says the VPD's Cnst. Tania Visintin. “We want to make the public aware, and ask them to be more mindful when and where they put down their belongings.”
The VPD advises people to keep purses and belongings close to your body so that they aren't easily grabbed, not to leave your purse draped over the back of your chair when in a restaurant or public area, not to leave your purse unattended in the change room or shopping cart while shopping, carry keys and ID documents in your pocket, and not to carry large amounts of money with you.
Police are asking anyone who falls victim to this type of crime to call 911 if the theft is in progress and to call 604-717-3321 to report the theft after it happens.
