Both the Saanich Police Department and the West Shore RCMP have issued public notices following the theft of three women in a similar manner since Friday. Police believe two men are working together to distract and then rob their victims. Their mode of operation was to get a man to approach a vehicle and tell the driver that a sharp object was stuck in one of his tires. When they start inspecting the damage, another man enters invisibly and steals their wallet. “We believe that women who carry a wallet or a package while returning to their vehicle are careful, as they know that they will be left unattended inside while distracting them,” said Const. Markos Anastasiadis in a statement. The first reported incident occurred on June 3 at Broadmead Mall, where Saanich police say a woman’s wallet was stolen around noon. On June 4, around 2 p.m., Saanich police say a second victim had returned to her vehicle with a small child after shopping at the Uptown Mall when a man knocked on her window and told her something did not go well with her tire. When he went out, he saw pins stuck inside. When the victim returned to her car, police say they noticed that her wallet, which was in the front seat, was gone.

Just an hour before the alleged robbery in Uptown, a victim was also targeted in Langford, BC, prompting the West Shore RCMP to issue a release seeking public assistance in locating suspects. The alleged robbery took place in a retail parking lot on the 800-block of Langford Parkway where once again a woman was informed by a suspect that there was a sharp object in her tire while another suspect got into her vehicle and stole her wallet while they distracted her. Police believe Langford’s victim was being monitored while she was shopping so thieves could try to find out her PIN. They stole money from the victim’s account using her bank card. Police said CCTV footage of the Langford parking lot showed a man putting something in the victim’s rubber band and then approaching his window to get his attention. It also shows a second suspect entering the other side of the car. The West Shore RCMP posted this picture of one of the suspects leaving a store in Langford. (West Shore RCMP) The West Shore RCMP and the Saanich Police Department are working together to locate the suspects. This picture was also taken in Langford. (West Shore RCMP) West Shore RCMP Const. Meghan Groulx said in a statement that police believe the incidents in both municipalities are related. “If a stranger approaches you and you feel suspicious or similar to this report, do not get involved and contact the police,” Grolex said. The Langford victim says the man who approached her was olive-skinned, about five feet tall, eight inches tall and weighed about 100 pounds. He is said to have spoken with an accent. Anyone with information about these suspects, or anyone else who has been fraudulent, can contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or the Saanich Police Department at 250-475-4321. For anonymous tips, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.