Langford 'distraction theft' may be linked to Saanich crimes
Police in Langford, B.C., are warning of a coordinated theft that may be linked to similar incidents in the Saanich, B.C., area.
Mounties say that on Saturday afternoon, a woman reported a theft at a store parking lot in the 800-block of Langford Parkway.
The woman told police that she was getting into her parked car when a man approached her and told her something was wrong with one of her tires.
The woman then exited her car and found a "sharp object" lodged in her tire.
While she was investigating the tire, police say a second man stole the woman's wallet from inside of her car.
Investigators say that security camera footage shows that the first man put something in the woman's tire before approaching her, according to West Shore RCMP.
The victim also told police that a bankcard was stolen in the incident and that money was withdrawn from her bank account with it.
Police believe that the men followed the woman inside of the store to try to glean her PIN number.
Police are searching for this man who's believed to be involved in a "distraction theft" in Langford, B.C. (West Shore RCMP)
'WORKING TOGETHER'
The incident is similar to two thefts that occurred in the Saanich area last week. In one of those thefts, a man approached a woman at Uptown Shopping Centre and told her something was wrong with her tire.
The woman found thumbtacks lodged in her tire as another man swiped her purse from the car, police said at the time.
"We are starting to see an increase in similar distraction theft crimes in neighbouring jurisdictions as well as the Lower Mainland," said Const. Meghan Groulx, spokesperson for the West Shore RCMP, in a statement Wednesday.
"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," she said.
The man who approached the woman in Langford is described as having olive-coloured skin and spoke with an accent. He is about 5'8" tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds.
Anyone with information on the incident or the man in the photo is asked to call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
"We believe the West Shore RCMP and Saanich Police Department incidents are related and we will be working together in this investigation," said Groulx.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.