She noticed the flat as she left the money exchange bureau on Greene Avenue and pulled over near Redfern Avenue and de Maisonneuve. As she got to work changing her tire, along with two bystanders who offered to help, a man approached the car, quietly opened the door, grabbed her purse, shut the door and walked nonchalantly away.
A witness approached him and asked if he knew the woman. He then fled, with witnesses close on his heels, and jumped into a grey-panelled blue minivan which sped away, heading north on Redfern.
This wasn't the first time this type of crime has happened in Westmount.
"It's happened at least five times over the last few years," said Constable Alain Diallo. "We've even had arrests for similar incidents."
Witnesses describe the suspect as a heavy-set white male between 25 and 30 years old, about 100 kg., with short dark hair. He was sporting a baseball cap, a yellow-and-white t-shirt and sunglasses.
Diallo says it's important to be vigilant when visiting the exchange bureau. He suggests parking in a busy area and watching for suspicious looking people hanging around.
Upon exiting the bureau, he recommends checking your vehicle's tires for punctures. If you notice your vehicle's been tampered with, call 911.
If you run into car trouble en route, try to stop in a busy area and keep windows and doors closed and locked.
Cops at Westmount's Station 12 are riding high after 92-year-old painter Ron Jamieson stopped by with an unexpected gift — one of his works, painted 15 years ago. The image depicts a policeman on horseback riding through some woods. It's currently hanging in the investigations office, but soon will be moved to a place where the public can also enjoy the piece.
In August, police officer and heavyweight martial artist Marc-Michel Roy brought home a silver medal in the karate Kumite Black Open event during the World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver. The competition features Olympic-calibre athletes in some 65 sporting events, all of whom work as police officers, firefighters, customs and correction officers
"He's very disciplined," Diallo said of Roy. "He's very focused on is training."
