Police warn 'heartbreaking' distraction thefts could rise in the summer
Police in the Lower Mainland are warning the longer, brighter days of summer mean distraction thefts, in which robbers quickly try to confuse victims while stealing from them, are expected to increase.
Jewelry, valuables and money are often stolen in the thefts, which have been a problem for years, according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).
Richard Jeha, a hairstylist and owner of Richard Jeha Salon, said he was robbed of treasured jewelry — a bracelet from a loved one and a cross on a gold chain — that he was wearing, while walking his dog in Vancouver's Kerrisdale neighbourhood earlier this month.
Jeha said it was still light out when he was approached by a woman offering him a strange-looking ring. She proceeded to ask him for the bracelet he was wearing.
It was a gift from a loved one in Lebanon, Jeha told CBC's On the Coast.
The woman said her husband, waiting in a nearby car with a small child, would pay for Jeha's bracelet.
"I said, 'No, no, no, I don't want any of that.' ... Anyway, she came from behind me, grabbed my elbow and pushed it into his window."
The man in the vehicle grabbed Jeha's hand, which the woman was holding, and slid his hand under the bracelet.
"He put his finger and just yanked it off me," Jeha said.
The man also stole Jeha's cross necklace, which he had had since he was five years old.
Jeha tried to yell at the couple, but to no avail.
"It wasn't more than a minute or so that she's in the car, and they took off."
Two boys helped Jeha call 911 after the incident.
Police concerned about distraction thefts
The VPD said the incident is very similar to other distraction thefts, however sometimes people aren't even aware they're being robbed.
"This has been going on for years and years and years. It's a very sophisticated group that's doing this," Const. Tania Visintin said.
About 70 cases of distraction theft have been reported to VPD since the beginning of the year, according to Visintin.
She said distraction thefts commonly occur in residential areas; the south and southeast parts of Vancouver are particular hotspots for this type of crime, possibly because there are more homes.
Visintin said a common strategy the robbers use is to approach a victim with a sob story. She noted they can come up to victims in yards or even on porches or patios.
"It's not just one group; it's several groups, so it does make catching them very difficult for us. But because there's such an increase right now, we're doing a lot of work, especially behind the scenes, a lot of covert things that I can't unfortunately speak about," Visintin said.
"We're taking this as a priority because these are innocent people that are getting targeted, and it's very heartbreaking to see."
Police in other Lower Mainland cities have also sent out warnings about distraction thefts.
Burnaby RCMP said three thefts in recent weeks have resulted in two victims losing family heirlooms.
In March, Surrey Police Service noted there had been more than a dozen incidents of distraction theft in the first three months of the year.
If you are approached by a stranger and feel uncomfortable, police recommend yelling and making noise to try attract the attention of others nearby.
Jeha said he wished he would have not visibly worn his cross over his shirt.
"That was something, a well-learned lesson."
But Jeha said the incident hasn't changed how he feels about his neighbourhood and that he continues to feel safe walking in his community.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
2 dead after plane crash near Vermilion Airport: RCMP
Federal investigators have been sent to Vermilion, Alta., after two people died Saturday in a plane crash near the local airport. The plane crashed about 1.2 kilometres short of the airport runway, just north of the town, killing the pilot and sole passenger, RCMP said. The pilot was a 46-year-old woman from Slave Lake, Alta. The passenger was a 76-year-old man from Mannville, Alta., police said. "Shock is going throughout the community," Shawn Jacula, a Vermilion resident and aviator, told CBC News. "It's something that is just unimaginable heartbreak for two families, two individuals who unfortunately lost their lives today, and it's difficult for everyone involved." The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) sent two investigators to Vermilion, which is roughly 175 kilometres east of Edmonton. The investigators will gather information and assess how the crash happened, according to a news release the agency issued Saturday. The TSB, an independent federal agency, examines air, marine, pipeline and rail transportation incidents to improve safety. Its investigations do not assign fault, nor determine liability. The crash occurred the same day Vermilion Airport was scheduled to hold an event for Alberta Air Tours, which visits rural communities to promote aviation. Alberta Air Tours had postponed the event until Sunday, the organization said on Facebook, due to poor weather. It then cancelled the event altogether out of respect after the crash.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man charged with 2019 homicide of Wetaskiwin woman, Twyla Evans
After six years of unanswered questions, an arrest has been made in the 2019 disappearance and suspected homicide of Twyla Evans, a vulnerable Wetaskiwin woman who was last seen alive in the central Alberta city. Alberta RCMP's Historical Homicide Unit announced that 49-year-old Stan Cross has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Evans' death. He was arrested without incident on June 20 and remains in custody. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday at the Court of King's Bench in Wetaskiwin. Evans, 39, was reported missing in September 2019. According to RCMP at the time, she was last seen between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sept. 6, leaving her residence to go to a movie. Her green Jeep Compass was found the following day parked near a Safeway. Despite multiple searches over the years, she has never been found. 'This was a particularly heartbreaking case due to the significant vulnerabilities the victim faced in her daily life,' said Insp. John Spaans, officer in charge of the Wetaskiwin RCMP detachment in a statement. The RCMP did not elaborate on the nature of those vulnerabilities or whether Evans and Cross were known to each other. Police say no further details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the court process. The Alberta RCMP historical homicide unit continued pursuing the case over the years, eventually uncovering new developments that led to the arrest. 'Our Alberta RCMP Historical Homicide Unit is a team of dedicated and meticulous investigators who are working for those who can no longer speak for themselves,' said Insp. Breanne Brown of the Alberta RCMP serious crimes branch. 'Our team has been able to bring Stan Cross to justice for his actions against Twyla Evans and provide some answers to her family and friends.' Brown said the investigation remains active, and efforts are still ongoing to recover Evans' remains. 'The Alberta RCMP does not stop investigating in these circumstances and our team continues to work to bring Twyla home,' she added. Evans was described in the original missing person alert as a Caucasian woman, five-foot-seven with an average build, green eyes, shoulder-length blackish-red hair, and a rose tattoo on her arm. She wore dark-rimmed glasses and may have been carrying a red shoulder purse and wearing a light grey jacket at the time of her disappearance. cnguyen@ DNA technology solves mystery of Edmonton woman's 2001 disappearance DNA identifies remains of Edmonton man who disappeared in 1990: EPS You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
How CBC investigated an alleged grandparent scam mogul
Gareth West lived a life of luxury. He said he made his money from buying and selling real estate in Montreal and southern Ontario. Now, he's been charged with orchestrating a $30-million scam network
