Vancouver – Vancouver Police are warning the public to be aware of distraction theft and blessing scams after three reported incidents in the city over the past few days.

Distraction Theft

An elderly victim called VPD just before noon on June 3, to report a distraction theft on Victoria Drive close to E 28^th Avenue. The victim was out working in his front yard when a black Kia Sportage SUV approached. The male driver allegedly rolled down his window and offered the victim a gold chain. While the victim was distracted, a female passenger in the backseat grabbed the victim’s gold chain necklace, breaking it and stealing a piece of it.

The suspects fled eastbound on E 27^th Avenue. Fortunately, the victim was not injured in the incident. The file remains under active investigation.

“If you have elderly loved ones and neighbours, they may be at risk for distraction theft,” says Constable Darren Wong. “We can all do our part to protect them by reaching out and discussing simple prevention tactics.”

Distraction theft prevention tips include:

Conceal Valuables: Keep jewelry and other valuables hidden underneath your clothing when out in public or working in your yard.
Protect Your Space: Maintain physical boundaries. Do not let strangers approach you or enter your personal space, even if they seem friendly or are offering gifts.
Draw Attention: If you feel you are being targeted, or feel unsafe, make noise, yell, and attract the attention of bystanders.

Anyone with information, dashcam footage, or home security video from the area of Victoria Drive and E 28th Avenue yesterday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department.

Blessing Scams

On June 1, an elderly female victim was persuaded by three unidentified women to bring approximately $7,000 cash, gold jewelry, and identification to be blessed by a “spiritualist” on Victoria Drive close to E 27^th Avenue. The victim obliged and handed her items over to the women, who then returned what she believed to be her valuables in a bag with the instructions to open the bag after three days. The victim later discovered that her items had been swapped with water bottles.

On June 3, in the greater Downtown Eastside, an elderly woman was persuaded by three suspects to withdraw $70,000 cash out of her bank’s safety deposit box in exchange to have her money blessed for good luck. In exchange, the victim later discovered that her “blessed” money was swapped for three bags of cornstarch.

In both reported cases, the suspects spoke in Cantonese dialects. The incidents are under police investigation.

“Similar to distraction thefts, we are encouraging our community members to engage in discussions with their elderly family members,” says Constable Darren Wong. “These fraud artists are exploiting cultural beliefs in spiritual protection and we need to do our part to protect our elderly.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department.

The post VPD renew distraction theft and blessing scam warning after seniors scammed appeared first on Vancouver Police Department.

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