Nanaimo RCMP are investigating a purse snatching incident that took place at a local mall last month that was captured on video surveillance.
Police said the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on May 2nd, when the thief snatched the purse in the Country Club Mall food court.
According to the victim’s report to police, the last time she had her purse was when she hung it over the back of her chair when sitting down to eat at the food court.
When she got up to leave her purse was gone.
The victim frantically searched the area for her purse before reporting the theft to mall security and RCMP.
Shortly after this, mall security found her purse on the ground outside JYSK.
According to the victim, everything except her BMO bank card was still accounted for within the purse.
On June 1st, mall security provided still images and video of the suspect which shows the actual theft.
In the video, the suspect can be seen sneaking up behind the victim then carefully picking up the purse from the back of her chair before walking away with it.
The suspect is described as a 40-55 year old Caucasian woman, standing 5’5” tall with a medium build.
At the time of the incident, she was wearing black glasses, a blue medical face mask and her dark hair was tied back into a bun.
The suspect was wearing a black jacket, black pants and carrying a paperback book.
“The still image of the suspect captured on CCTV cameras shows her carrying a paperback book. Investigators believe that she may have been sitting in the food court prior to the theft and therefore someone may remember her,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
You can watch the video below:
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at (250) 754-2345.
