While a number of distraction thefts have been taking place across Metro Vancouver in recent months, Burnaby RCMP are alerting citizens about two new types of these crimes that are targeting seniors.

In the first case, a female victim withdrew cash from her bank located at 4500 Kingsway Avenue in Burnaby on September 5. She placed the cash in an envelope, which she then put into her bag.

She then stopped at a food court, then went shopping.

After about 20 minutes, she was approached by a female suspect who told the victim that she had ketchup on her back and began cleaning it for her.

As she was cleaning, the female suspect engaged the victim in conversation and distracted her while a male suspect stole the envelope with cash in it from the victim’s bag.

Investigators are seeking to identify one female and two male suspects connected to this incident (pictured in the above images).

A second case involved a claim of dropped coins.

Around 7:30 p.m. on September 18, a female victim was getting into her vehicle at a mall in the 4500 block of Lougheed Highway when an unknown female suspect approached her.

The suspect told her that the victim had dropped some change near the front wheel of her vehicle.

The victim got out of her car and as the victim and female suspect were picking up the change, a male entered the passenger side of the vehicle and stole some cash from her purse that was on the passenger seat.

When the victim got back into her vehicle and she discovered cash had been stolen from her purse, she notified police.

Investigators are seeking to identify a female and male suspect as pictured above.

Anyone who has information about any of these suspects or incidents is asked to contact Burnaby RCMP.

Burnaby RCMP are offering the following tips to prevent such thefts:

• anyone carrying cash should secure it in a zipped bag held close to your body or your pocket;
• if someone accidentally spills something on you or drops something in front of you, ensure your valuables are secured before you react;
• if you are withdrawing a large sum of money from a financial institution, consider making the withdrawal on your way home instead of walking around with the cash;
• if someone appears to be overly friendly and you are uncomfortable, get to a safe space as soon as possible and contact police;
• don’t be afraid to ask someone to get out of your personal space if you feel unsafe or something doesn’t feel right;
• although being a victim of a distraction theft can be difficult to speak about, reporting it to police will ensure an investigation.