Skip to content

Woman, 85, breaks hip fending off three would-be Vancouver purse snatchers

A man elbowed her to the ground, and two others joined in trying to wrench her purse away
17056953_web1_15255871_web1_Vancouver_police
Vancouver Police Department. (Black Press Media files) Vancouver Police Department. (Black Press Media files)

An elderly woman is in hospital with a broken hip after fending off three would-be purse snatchers in Vancouver’s Chinatown in what police describing as a “new low.”

The 85-year-old woman was walking near Main and Keefer streets around 9:30 a.m. on May 22, police said Wednesday, when a man elbowed her, causing her to fall to the ground. Two other men joined in and tried to steal her purse.

But the woman held on to her bag, and the men fled east on Keefer, empty-handed.

“This woman was just minding her own business and walking down a city street when she was attacked by three men,” Const. Steve Addison said.

The first man is described as Caucasian, about 40 years old, 5’10”, and was wearing glasses, a tan hat and a blue shirt.

A second man is described as Indigenous, in his 50s, with long, grey hair and was carrying a red Budweiser bag.

There is no description available for the third man.

Anyone with information is asked to call Vancouver police or Crime Stoppers.


@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
Read more