A 33-year-old Burnaby man has been charged in connection with a rash of North Burnaby purse snatchings aimed mostly at elderly women.
Burnaby RCMP had been investigating a number of such incidents reported in North Burnaby in February and early March when officers witnessed a man grabbing a purse from an elderly female in the 4400-block of Hastings Street, according to an RCMP press release.
Police say the woman was knocked to the ground and suffered minor injuries.
The Mounties gave chase and arrested the man.
A search warrant later executed at a residence in the 4000 block of Union Street in Burnaby turned up a number of items linked to the purse snatchings.
Bryan McVeigh, of Burnaby, now faces three counts of robbery and one count of theft in relation to four separate purse snatching incidents.
The victims of the incidents were female, three of them elderly, according to police.
“Incidents like these can have a devastating effect on the victims, two of whom are in their 80s,” stated Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Daniela Panesar. “The accused is facing criminal charges thanks to the diligent and hard work of our Strike Force Unit.”
