Mounties issue warning about distraction thefts after woman's cards taken in Salmon Arm

Mounties are warning shoppers to be on their guard in the wake of a distraction theft outside a grocery store.

A woman had debit and credit cards stolen in Salmon Arm while she was loading items into her car.

One of the thieves distracted her by asking if she had lost something near the front of her vehicle while the other snatched her purse.

By the time the woman had noticed the theft a short time later, hundreds of dollars had been spent on the cards.

The theft happened outside an unnamed chain store on August 16.

Police continue to investigate the incident and are attempting to identify those responsible.

In the meantime, they warned people to be on the lookout for this “age-old tactic”.

If someone approaches you in a parking lot and provides “some kind of urgent excuse” that makes you divert your attention away from what you are doing, Mounties say you should:

• Finish what you are doing

• If they get too close to you, yell at them to attract attention

• Lock your valuables in your vehicle and roll up your windows

• Keep your keys in your hands

• Call police if you need help