Penticton RCMP seek witnesses to daytime casino parking lot robbery

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP are seeking witnesses to a daylight robbery in the Cascades Casino parking lot.

An elderly woman walking in the parking lot adjacent to the casino was accosted by a woman passenger in a silver coloured SUV that drove up beside the victim, according to an RCMP media release.

The female passenger, who was accompanied by a male driver and two children, asked the victim for money to feed her children, police say. The two women conversed at length before the victim handed some money over to the woman.

The suspect then asked for more, at the same time grabbing the victim’s rings from her fingers and ripping off her necklace. The suspect then handed the woman a zip lock bag containing fake gold pieces.

The victim was unharmed in the incident and called the police, providing a detailed statement.

The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. yesterday, July 31, at the Cascades Casino parking lot on Vees Drive.

RCMP describe the suspect is described as a South Asian woman, with a South Asian accent, a heavy build and dark hair. She was wearing a dark yellow tank top.

The vehicle is described as a new model Hyundai Santa Fe SUV with what is believed to be an Alberta license plate.

Anyone who might have witnessed the incident is asked to call the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.


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Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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