Gatineau Police are warning women in their '60s and older about thieves stealing pin numbers and bank cards in the city.
Police say the thieves work in teams. One person uses a smartphone to film the victim enter their pin number while cashing out at a store. Another suspect then follows the victim to their car and distracts them by asking for directions. The thief who filmed the transaction then steals the victim's debit card or purse.
More than 20 people have been robbed this way in Gatineau since January, with many more cases taking place across the province. The robberies most commonly occurred outside grocery stores, pharmacies and big chain stores.
"They are a group of 75 or 80 working across the province," said Pierrre Lanthier of the Gatineau Police. "Not only four or five of them but a massive group doing fraud everywhere."
Police are advising women, in particular, to guard their pin numbers when using their debit cards. They say if someone approaches you in a parking lot, it's best to lock the door, drive away, and call police.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
