Coquitlam RCMP search for suspected baby formula thieves
Posted July 11, 2017 9:51 am.
Last Updated July 11, 2017 5:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – Mounties in Coquitlam are looking for two people accused of stealing about $300 worth of baby formula.
The theft happened late at night at a grocery store on Lougheed Highway on June 30th. The pair allegedly put between six and eight tins of formula into a shopping bag and walked out of the store without paying.
Police say they then drove away in a car that had been reported stolen.
While the idea of anyone stealing baby formula might seem odd, Cpl. Michael McLaughlin says it’s actually quite common.
“Because it’s valuable and light and easily exchanged, it’s actually used as a street currency,” he explains. “We have noticed in the past that people are exchanging it for things like drugs.”
McLaughlin adds previous thefts of baby formula have been linked to organized crime rings that export it to foreign countries where the local supply is unreliable.
“We have found in some countries –particularly China– the local formula isn’t as reliable and as a result it’s actually quite valuable and is often imported by organized crime.”
One of the suspects is described as a Middle Eastern man in his late 20’s, about 5’6″ with short, dark hair.
The other suspect is described as a Middle Eastern woman in her thirties, about 5’1″ with long brown-red hair.
Anyone who can identify the suspects is asked to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and ask for Cst. Ferrer.
