Police are hoping CCTV footage will identify two men suspected of robbing a woman who withdrew $5,000 from a Richmond bank.
The woman, who is of Chinese ethnicity, took the cash from the bank, believed to be the TD Canada branch in Lansdowne Centre, on Monday, Sept. 14 at around 11 a.m.
However, at around 11:30 a.m., while en route to meet a friend in Vancouver, she noticed a tire on her car was flat and pulled into a parking lot near 57th Avenue and Oak Street in south Vancouver.
As she got out of the car, two men, one described as being south Asian, ran over and grabbed her purse containing the cash.
According to Const. Brian Montague, of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the victim does not believe she was targeted.
Her account of the incident, however, is leading the VPD to strongly suspect that she was singled out at the bank in Richmond and that her tire was tampered with by the men.
“It is possible this was random, but it would be too much of a coincidence that she got a flat tire shortly after withdrawing a large sum of money from the bank and then two men show up at her car within seconds and rob her,” added Montague.
Police are currently looking for video footage of the area around the bank and the mall at Lansdowne Centre.
Montague said police are, as yet, unable to release any more information about the suspects.
“We do get crimes of this nature from time to time; it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, especially coming from the bank,” advised Montague.
“We suggest you keep your money and important identification items out of your purse and wallet. Losing your identification can cause a major disruption to your life.”
Anyone with information should contact the VPD at 604-717-3321 or Crimestoppers free and anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
