It appears that skilled European pickpockets have decided to take a holiday and ply their trade in Vancouver.....
One of the suspects is described as "Eastern European" and two have now appeared at Immigration hearings. With our ineffective immigration laws, these individuals will probably avoid deportation and remain in Canada for a long time, and of course continue committing criminal acts.
Thanks for sharing. I take this train often. While on vacation I'm always aware of my surroundings and local scams as far as I can prepare with online info. At home I'll be honest I'm not diligent with personal safety. A good reminder!
It's because there are so many pick pockets in Europe it's reached saturation point and there's no-one left to pick pocket.
Oh, yes, guys of the same description were plying their trade in Montreal a few years ago, so I guess they have moved west. Three of them tried to get into my purse in a super market by distracting me with questions about how to get somewhere, but I sensed what they were up to and made a big scene. They slunk away ....... caught a plane to Vancouver, I guess.
Released on a promise to appear... with no skills or job, his next appearance will be next to our wallets!
I am glad to see this thread fade, with its undertone of anti-immigrant political bias.
I am glad to see this thread fade, with its undertone of anti-immigrant political bias
I'm afraid you're looking too deeply and seeing something that isn't there.
Thanks Ken! We make a couple of trips a year to Vancouver. Always felt pretty much at home, but I might be a bit more attentive from now on.
Southam,
There was NO "anti-immigrant political bias undertones" intended in my post. I simply wanted to bring awareness to the fact that pickpockets using the same tactics as in Europe are now operating in Vancouver (and probably other Canadian cities). In many cases these individuals are eastern European, and I very much doubt they have any intention of immigrating to Canada. They're here for the "opportunities" to ply their nefarious trade, and tend to move from place-to-place.
My reference to "ineffective immigration laws" was referring more to a few cases where a person illegally in the country has committed serious crimes and the government is "unable" to deport them. These individuals "play" the court system and in a few cases the government has been trying for five years or more to remove them, with no success. Here's one example - https://globalnews.ca/news/4087292/canada-deporting-dangerous-criminals-ineffective-still-here/ .
I am glad to see this thread fade, with its undertone of anti-immigrant political bias.
Well, it seems that your post brought it back to light after 5 days of nada. If you want a thread to fade, don't post on it.
