Charges have now been approved in relation to a series of crimes that occurred yesterday in Vancouver.

Shortly before 8:00 yesterday morning, a grey Acura was stolen in Richmond. That vehicle was later involved in several violent crimes that occurred in Vancouver that same day.

The first occurred at about 11:30 near Glen Drive and Terminal Avenue. The driver of the stolen car allegedly tried to steal a purse off the shoulder of a 19-year-old woman. A struggle occurred and the suspect drove away without the purse.

The second happened at 12:15 on Vancouver’s west side near 18th Avenue and Laurel Street. A man driving the stolen Acura reportedly pointed a gun at a 34-year-old woman and robbed the victim of her purse.

VPD officers spotted the stolen car in the parking lot of Kingsgate Mall about 30 minutes after the second armed robbery. The driver rammed a police car and drove away at a high rate of speed. The police helicopter, kept watch from above as the suspect drove from the mall to the intersection of Quebec Street and First Avenue where members of the VPD Emergency Response Team managed to stop the stolen car and take the driver into custody.

None of the victims were physically injured. A weapon found in the vehicle after the arrest turned out to be a replica handgun.

Thirty-six-year-old Abbas Saeed Abbas has now been charged with robbery, use of a firearm during the commission of a crime and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Abbass is from Alberta, is wanted in Calgary, and has a lengthy criminal record in that province. He remains in custody.

The charges are related to the crimes that took place in Vancouver only. The Richmond RCMP are also investigating incidents linked to the accused and the stolen Acura and additional charges are expected.

It is believed Abbas has only been in the Vancouver area for a few days. Investigators in multiple jurisdictions will be working together to trace the accused’s movements and actions during his recent travels from Alberta to BC and the Lower Mainland to look at any possible links to other offences.