The Abbotsford Police Department is warning the public about a purse thief who recently posed as a water inspector.
Const. Paul Walker said on July 7, a man knocked on the door of a woman in her 60s who lives on Fern Street and told her there had been a water-main break.
He asked to see the woman's ID to prove that she was a resident of the home.
The man suggested the woman check her backyard for water seepage and told her that, while she was doing that, he would check the front yard.
After he left, the resident noticed that her purse and wallet had been stolen.
The purse was found the following day by an elevator repairman, who came across it in an elevator shaft and called police. Some of the items were still in the purse, but others, including cash, were missing.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian, about 30 years old, and with short, curly dark hair.
He was wearing a green golf shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers with black shoelaces, and was carrying a red cellphone.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or text 222973 (abbypd).