Steer Clear of Distraction Thefts –

Const. Todd Blower, our Community Policing Officer, has advice on how to cope with the increasing prevalence of “distraction thefts”:

Distraction theft is when one or more people use trickery, diversions or sleight of hand to steal from your person or vehicle. Typical locations for these incidents include ATMs, retail stores, parking lots, and even your own residence or yard.

Victims of these incidents tend to be elderly, trusting, or have English as a second language. Offenders typically look for people who are alone and preoccupied.

These situations are far more prevalent in the summer as more people are out and about. Offenders tend to be transient in nature and, more likely than not, utilize rental vehicles (mainly from Ontario or Alberta).

Frequently children are used in this scam as decoys and to make you sympathetic to their story. Many times, people will approach as you are preoccupied and invade your personal space, either overwhelming you with a story of financial distress or grabbing at your wrists or jewelry. Most will offer you fake jewelry for sale or trade and place the items on your person while taking your own jewelry, using sleight of hand. The encounter tends to be very short in duration. 

Distraction thefts are difficult for police to investigate as they are so brief in nature and many victims won’t even realize something has occurred until the suspects are long gone.

Items stolen are typically jewelry and money.

What Can You Do?
  • Be aware of your personal space and don’t let strangers into it
  • If approached in your yard, go inside and lock the door
  • If you feel unsafe, telephone the police
  • Do not approach vehicles if the driver or passenger is waving you over
  • Remember the old adage “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”

Statistics

40% of distraction thefts in BC occur in Vancouver

85% of distraction thefts involve fake jewelry or fake gold

60% of distraction thefts involve persons 60 years old and above.