JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Could a case of a purse theft be indicative of a growing trend in Vaudreuil-Soulanges? While the Sûreté du Québec officially says it’s unlikely, a victim’s recent encounter leaves her unsure.

Hudson resident Linnea Owen was surprised that leaving her purse unattended for a mere moment in her vehicle in the busy Costco parking lot in Vaudreuil sur le Lac as she loaded her purchases into her car on Dec. 5 would leave her a victim of crime.

It was at this time when, Owen explained, a young man tapped her on the shoulder and wordlessly pointed to a few coins beside her rear tire.

“I said ‘thank you,’ (and) started picking them all up,” Owen said. “And then as I got up with all the change, I went to find my purse and couldn’t see it anywhere.”

“Within half an hour he was at Walmart purchasing things on my card,” she said.

Owen filed a report with the Sûreté du Québec that evening.

Though an unfortunate occurrence, the SQ does not have data to suggest that these kinds of crimes are trending upward in the area, SQ spokesperson Valérie Beauchamp said. Instead, she suggested that this was likely an isolated incident.

However, Owen’s husband explained that they’ve been hearing a different story.

The SQ officers whom Owen filed the report with told the couple that this type of crime happens “more than one would think” in the area, Marcus Owen explained.

Additionally, the couple was told by an employee at their bank branch that other area residents had recently had to have their bank cards replaced after falling victim to similar thefts.

“They had replaced three similar cards stolen from the same parking lot,” Marcus Owen said.

While Linnea Owen has little hope that she’ll get her purse back, she and her husband hope other area residents will keep a watchful eye on their belongings while in the Costco parking lot to avoid falling victim of the same crime. “It’s good to let people know to be more aware,” Linnea Owen said.