VPD warns about group of distraction thieves heading to Vancouver
Posted May 15, 2015 11:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A group of distraction thieves which is believed to travel from province to province is on its way to Vancouver, according to police.
“The Vancouver Police have received some information that a crime group involved in distraction thefts or distraction robberies is planning on coming to the Vancouver area,” says Constable Brian Montague. “These are groups that often travel from city to city, province to province. They don’t stay in one city or one area for very long.”
If you like to wear gold, you’ll be a target for these thieves — even more so if you’re elderly and from the Asian, South Asian or Italian communities, says Montague.
He says these crooks create some form of distraction and then use sleight of hand to replace your real jewellery with fake ones. The thieves often take off in a waiting rental vehicle.
“Obviously we’re concerned about the information and we believe that we may see the start of these incidents again,” says Montague. “Last year in 2014 we had 55 distraction thefts and robberies reported to Vancouver Police.”
Police have named Vasile Oinescu, 25, Ion Mustata, 31, and Floarea Ghiocel, 41, as people with outstanding warrants for related crimes. However, they’re not sure if they’re travelling with the group believed to be heading here.
