South Vancouver residents are surprised to hear a woman getting off a bus at 41st Ave. and Rupert St. had the rings stolen right off her hands last week.
"I did not hear news, but my opinion is not good," one resident told CTV News. "That's abuse or stealing."
"That's pretty low," said another man. "About as desperate as you can get I guess."
The prime suspect in the ring theft is Tracy Caza, who police say is a career criminal.
In 1991, he was convicted of theft in New Westminster. In 2002, another theft and a break and enter.
He walked into a seniors centre in North Vancouver and stole rings from Pauline Moore.
"He shouldn't be doing this to people in a home like this or anywhere because we're very vulnerable," Moore told CTV News.
But his crime spree didn't end at the Lynn Valley Care Centre.
In 2003, Caza was convicted of theft, in 2006, a break and enter. And in March 2008, he pleaded guilty to theft and fraud for stealing 91-year-old Agnes Ulmer's rings - right from her hospital bed.
Agnes was in hospital for a leg amputation when Tracy Caza offered to clean her rings.
Her family says Tracy Caza should still be in jail. Vancouver Police say they are watching him.
"Yes, obviously he's someone on our radar," says VPD Const. Tim Fanning. "He is someone we have dealt with for the past few years."
The latest ring theft occurred near a senior's home. Under the terms of his probation, Tracy Caza is not to enter any long-term care home. He's also banned from hospitals unless he has an appointment.
Caza is supposed to move out of the province by the end of October and enroll in a treatment program back east.
Police hope to catch up with him first.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Carrie Stefanson
