Think of it as Oliver Twist – with a modern twist. West Vancouver police are warning the public after a thief used sleight of hand to separate a man from his bank cards at the Caulfeild Village Shopping Centre – the second such distraction theft in the last year.
On June 29, the suspect approached a senior in the parking lot, claiming he’d dropped some cash in the store. When the victim opened his wallet, the stranger put some bills in, but slyly snatched the debit cards out without the victim knowing.
He was later captured by security cameras at a local bank, withdrawing money from the accounts. Const. Kevin Goodmurphy, West Vancouver police spokesman, said it’s believed the suspect had watched the victim punch in his PIN at the liquor store before following him out to the parking lot, where he executed the con.
West Vancouver resident Pam Langley said it was her husband who was victimized most recently.
“When I came out of Safeway he was waiting at the car. He was really puzzled and kind of upset because he didn’t really know what had happened. This guy just came up to him and said ‘Wallet, wallet.’ And started waving money in front of him. He was totally confused,’” she said. “It sounds like one of those people who gets you in Europe or South America when you’re travelling. These people are all around and you’re sort of prepared for it. But in Caulfeild, you don’t expect it.”
Langley found almost $2,000 was taken out of her husband’s accounts. The bank refunded their losses but Langley said it has been a stressful experience.
Goodmurphy said the case is almost identical to one reported at Caulfeild Village last summer.
“We have reason to believe that it is the same suspect,” Goodmurphy said. “The MO is almost exactly the same.”
Since connecting the two cases, Goodmurphy said police have identified the suspect, although he has not yet been arrested.
Distraction thefts are quite uncommon, Goodmurphy said, especially using this method.
“These two … are the only two of their kind that I’ve heard of in 10 years on the job. It’s quite rare,” he said.
Now the Langleys are pushing the same message as West Vancouver police: Protect your PIN, never open your wallet in front of a stranger, and make sure to use different codes for different cards if you have more than one.
Anyone with information about the theft – or similar ones – is asked to contact West Vancouver police at 604-925-7300. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
