Vancouver police are currently looking into a series of thefts that have targeted seniors through distraction tactics, and are exploring potential connections between the incidents.
The first theft took place on August 28 around 2:30 p.m. at a bus stop near Macdonald Street and West 10th Avenue. A 63-year-old woman was approached by a man and a woman in a white vehicle. The female suspect offered to pray for the woman, but after returning to the vehicle and leaving, it was discovered that a valuable family heirloom necklace had been stolen during the interaction.
The second incident occurred on August 31 around noon near Butler Street and East 49th Avenue. An 88-year-old man was lured by a woman in a vehicle who showed him a ring and convinced him to take a piece of jewelry. Later, the man realized that his late wife’s ring had been swapped with a fake one.
Investigators are now looking at the possibility of a connection between these two incidents.
The Vancouver Police Department advises residents to exercise caution when strangers engage in intimate interactions, especially involving valuable jewelry.
If you have witnessed these incidents or have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the VPD at 604-717-3321.
