West Shore RCMP are asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects in a “distraction theft” similar to ones reported in Saanich, where two women had their wallets stolen from parking lots.
At about 1 p.m. Saturday, police received a report about a theft in a retail parking lot in the 800-block of Langford Parkway.
The victim said she was getting into her vehicle when a man approached her and said there was something wrong with her tire. While she was investigating, another man entered her vehicle and stole her wallet.
The victim said her bank card was used to withdraw money from her account. It’s believed the suspects also followed her into the store to try to get her personal identification number.
“We are starting to see an increase in similar theft crimes in neighbouring jurisdictions, as well as the Lower Mainland,” said Const. Meghan Groulx. “If you are approached by a stranger and you feel it is suspicious or similar to this report, please do not engage and contact the police.”
CCTV footage from the scene shows a man putting something in the victim’s tire then coming up to her window to get her attention.
She gets out and looks at the tire, and while the man talks to her, the other man goes into the car to get the wallet.
The man that approached the victim is described as speaking with an accent and having olive-coloured skin. He is about five-foot-eight and 160 pounds.
Call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 with any information or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
In the Saanich incidents, which occurred last Friday and Saturday, the suspects used a similar method as in the Langford case. On Saturday, a man knocked on the car window of a women leaving a parking lot at Uptown and told her there was something wrong with her tire. The woman’s wallet was stolen while she was investigating. A similar incident occurred at a parking lot at Broadmead Shopping Centre at noon Friday.
