Saanich police are warning people to be on guard for a “distraction theft” scam in parking lots in the municipality, after two women had their wallets stolen from their vehicles.
At 3 p.m. Saturday, a woman had just returned to her vehicle with her young child after shopping at Uptown shopping centre. As she began to drive away, a man knocked on her window and told her there was something wrong with her tire.
When she got out of her vehicle to investigate, she noticed thumbtacks stuck to the tire.
Once she got back into her vehicle and started to drive away, she noticed her wallet, which had been on the front passenger seat, was missing.
A review of dashcam and surveillance footage from the mall confirmed that two men appeared to have worked together in the theft. While one man distracted the woman, the other man opened the passenger door and stole her wallet.
A similar incident was reported at a parking lot at Broadmead Shopping Centre at noon Friday — a woman’s wallet was taken out of her purse while she was distracted in the same manner.
“We believe they are watching for women carrying a purse or pack while returning to their vehicle, as they know it will be left unattended inside while they distract them,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades. “We encourage anyone that has had something similar happen to call their local police to report it. We have seen these types of organized thefts occurring across the country in the past few months and suspect that they will continue.”
Investigators believe the thefts are connected, and have released images of the suspects captured from the incident on Saturday.
Anyone who can identify either of the suspects is asked to call the Saanich Police Department at 250-475-4321, or make an anonymous report through Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
