Charges laid after crime spree in Vancouver, Richmond
Posted April 28, 2016 1:20 pm.
Last Updated April 28, 2016 3:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Charges have been laid against an Alberta man in connection with a crime spree that began in Richmond and ended in Vancouver yesterday.
Abbas Saeed Abbas faces several charges.
It started at 8 a.m., when a grey Acura was stolen in Richmond.
“The driver of the stolen vehicle allegedly pointed a firearm at another driver and his passenger,” says Vancouver Police Constable Brian Montague.
The driver of the same car apparently tried to steal the purse off the shoulder of a woman a few hours later near Glen Drive and Terminal Avenue in Vancouver.
“There was a struggle for the purse and the driver of the stolen vehicle never managed to get the purse,” says Montague.
He adds less than an hour after that, they got word of another purse snatching at 18th Avenue and Laurel Street. “That involved the driver of this stolen vehicle pointing a gun at a 34-year-old woman and robbed her of her purse. Again, no injuries to the victim.”
About a half hour later, the car was found in the parking lot of Kingsgate Mall.
“When the driver of the stolen Acura saw our police officers, he rammed the police vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed,” says Montague.
A police helicopter tracked the car to Quebec Street and 1st Avenue, where officers stopped the car and arrested the driver. Police say a weapon was found in the car; it turned out to be a replica handgun.
Abbas, 36, has been charged with robbery, use of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle — they stem from the events that happened in Vancouver.
Richmond Mounties also believe Abbas is responsible for the armed robbery and car theft of a senior on Williams Road on Tuesday. In that case, the suspect apparently went into the woman’s home through an unlocked garage door, pulled out a gun and demanded the 78-year-old woman’s purse and car keys. She was not physically hurt.
The Alberta man is wanted in Calgary and has a criminal record in that province.
“He also has current charges out of Calgary. I believe those charges are for threatening, mischief, robbery, and being unlawfully at large. He also has current charges out of Cochrane, Alberta, for break and enter and robbery with a firearm,” says Montague.
Police believe Abbas has only been in the Vancouver area for a few days.
