Thieves use ‘age old tactic’ in parking lot

Police are trying to identify the people behind a con job in Salmon Arm.

Mounties said on Aug. 16 in the parking lot at a chain store, a man distracted a woman who was loading groceries into her car, asking her if she had lost something near the front of her vehicle.

At the same time, police believe an accomplice stole a number of bank and credit cards from her purse.

By the time the theft was noticed a short time later, the thieves had already racked up hundreds of dollars of expenses on the cards.

“The type of theft that is evident here is the age old tactic by thieves to divert your attention away from your belongings. Meanwhile an accomplice steals a wallet, credit cards, keys or other valuables,” Staff Sgt. Scott West of Salmon Arm RCMP said.

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West gave the following advice if you are approached by someone in a parking lot and they give you some kind of urgent excuse that prompts you to divert your attention from what you are doing.

“Finish what you are doing. And if they encroach on your personal space yell at them to back away to attract attention. Lock valuables in your vehicle with windows rolled up and hang on to your keys in your hand. Then if you want to go investigate, do so with extreme caution but do not let people in your car or go near another car. Remember, you can always call the police for us to come and help at any point,” West said.

West said the culprits are under investigation for theft from a purse and fraudulent use of credit cards.