Police warn of pickpocket with new tricks

An unwary Westmounter got a nasty surprise on Nov. 2 as he walked out of a local bank following a late morning errand.

As he left the building on Sherbrooke Street and began walking south along Victoria Avenue, a liquid with a nauseating odor was splashed onto his head and jacket.

At that moment, a seeming Good Samaritan appeared, offering him help cleaning his coat. The man pulled off the coat, brushed away the sickening substance, handed the coat back and walked away.

But when the man later checked his pockets, his wallet was gone. "This is a pretty common way of operating all over the world," said Sergeant-Detective Yvonne Opdam.

She pointed out that crooks will use easy diversions like spilled drinks or condiments to distract a mark while snatching with his or her money, wallet, purse or luggage.

Opdam and Station 12 police are asking for residents to report any similar incidents and to refuse help from strangers if they find themselves splashed with a similar liquid. They should walk into a nearby store, if possible, to clean up.

They also recommend being careful and aware of surroundings when withdrawing money at the bank.

Opdam says the pickpockets will keep using the same tactic if they're successful.

Police are looking for a white man in his 40s who was wearing dark-coloured clothing at the time of the Victoria Avenue incident, but Opdam says anyone could be involved. "It's not just one person," she said. "It's an organized way of doing things."