Mounties are searching for three suspects after a spate of cellphone robberies occurred in Coquitlam this month.
RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung told The Tri-City News that there have been four robberies since the beginning of December and that descriptions of the suspects in each case are similar.
"The suspects usually approach a victim and ask for the time," Chung said. "When the victim takes out his smartphone to check the time, the suspects allegedly produce a weapon and rob him of his phone."
The first incident occurred on Plateau Boulevard at Whitepark Place and the second occurred along Walton Avenue. A third robbery occurred north of the City Centre Aquatic Complex and the most recent theft took place at the basketball courts at Town Centre Park.
All of the suspects are described as males between 5'7" and 5'8" tall with slim builds. One is of Middle Eastern decent, while a second suspect is black and the third is Caucasian.
In most of the cases, a weapon was brandished and the victims were mostly young Asian or Middle Eastern teenagers, Chung said.
"Although the suspects appear to carry out the alleged robberies against a certain type of victim in specific areas, we want everyone to be extra vigilant anywhere they go and call us if you see anything or anyone suspicious," he added.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Coquitlam RCMP robbery unit at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2013-35647. Those who wish to provide information anonymously can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by going online to www.solvecrime.ca.
