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Steveston business owners on alert after spate of brazen thefts

At least five businesses are thought to have been targeted in recent weeks by what appears to be distraction-style crimes

Steveston business owners are on alert after what appears to be a rash of brazen thefts from their stores and customers.

Among those hit recently were Bon Retour Consignment Fashion on Moncton Street and Anar Persian Cuisine on Third Avenue.

At Bon Retour – a high-end fashion consignment store – a man and a woman were spotted on Aug. 1 apparently colluding outside before entering separately.

According to store owner, Glenda Walliser, once both were inside, the man distracted her staff while the woman entered a back room, eventually making off with a staff member’s wallet.

Walliser said the thieves used a card from the stolen wallet to buy lottery tickets at Super Grocer in the village, where they apparently also distracted an elderly woman, stealing her handbag.

She understands that several other businesses in the village were targeted by the same pair, where they were chased out of one backroom.

Over at Anar, the restaurant posted on social media on the weekend photos and video of man – thought not be the one from Bon Retour – helping himself to a handbag containing money, credit cards, and a restaurant key.

“I would just be saying to everyone to watch out for these people, they don’t seem to care about anything,” Walliser told the Richmond News.

Richmond RCMP confirmed to the Richmond News that it's investigating the two incidents of theft and has issued an appeal for information based on the description of the suspects.

The woman is described as:

  • Caucasian female
  • Approximately 30 to 40 years of age
  • Approximately 5’10
  • Medium length blond hair
  • Round, bulky build

She was wearing:

  • Beige t-shirt
  • Black tights

The a man described as:

  • Caucasian male
  • 30 to 40 years of age
  • Approximately 5’10
  • Medium build
  • Bald, shaved head

He was wearing:

  • Blue long sleeve shirt
  • Blue and white patterned bandana face mask
  • Blue jeans

Both were wearing blue or gray coloured medical face masks which covered the lower portion of their faces.

Richmond RCMP is asking anyone with information regarding these thefts to contact them at 604-278-1212.

The News reported in May how Bon Retour was hit in the early hours of the morning by a thief, who ransacked through Walliser’s store, stealing numerous items.