Seniors who have been targeted for so-called distraction thefts in Vancouver this year have reported combined losses of nearly $250,000, according to authorities, which said the alleged thieves are part of “organized crime rings” made up of Canadian citizens and foreign nationals. The Vancouver Police Department, in a media release, said there have been 35 incidents reported so far this year—describing the modus operandi. “The victims are just out and about, living their lives when a person, or a group, approaches on foot or in a vehicle, distracts them and using practised sleight of hand, replaces their jewelry with fakes,” the statement from the VPD said. “It happens quickly, in a matter of seconds, but the impact on the victims is long-lasting. Family heirlooms and their sense of safety is lost.” The highest number of reports have come from residential neighbourhoods on the east side of the city, outside of the downtown core, according to the VPD. But police also said these localized crimes are part of a broader pattern in which suspects “often crisscross Canada in rented vehicles.” Anyone who has been the victim of a distraction theft is urged to call 911 immediately, and those who are vulnerable to being targeted are advised to conceal their jewelry.
