This guy has been robbing Alberta women by impersonating a police officer, real police say

Calgary police are looking for a man believed to have robbed two different women he met online with an unusual tactic involving a fake police vest.

The first robbery happened in Calgary on March 25, around 5:50 p.m.

Police said the man had arranged to meet with a woman at a business in the city's Beltline area, in the 800 block of 12th Avenue S.W.

"When the man arrived, he opened up his jacket, displaying a vest that said 'POLICE'across the chest," Calgary police said in a release.

"He stated he was a police officer and then stole the woman's debit card, cellphone, laptop and an undisclosed amount of cash. He immediately fled the scene."

Second incident involved handcuffs

A similar robbery then happened on April 11 in Leduc, Alta.

A different woman who made contact with a man online agreed to meet him in person at a business in the 2500 block of 48th Avenue N.E.

"Upon meeting, the man revealed a black vest that said 'POLICE' across the chest and then placed the woman in handcuffs," Calgarypolice said.

"He then took the woman's cellphone and an undisclosed amount of money before removing the handcuffs and fleeing the scene."

Based on images captured by security cameras in the vicinity of both robberies, Calgary police believe it was the same man involved in both incidents.

They said he is not an actual police officer.

Description of suspect

They also believe a third, similar incident that occurred on March 26 in Leduc is connected.

The man is described as approximately 20 to 30 years old and roughly five feet, eight inches tall. He has a slim-to-medium build and black, ear-length hair.

He was dressed in black pants, black boots and a black sweater, in all of the incidents. Beneath the sweater he wore a a black vest or shirt with the "POLICE" lettering.

In the first robbery, he was also wearing black eye glasses and a Coors Lightbaseball hat.

Anyone with information about the man's identity or the robberies in general is asked to contact Calgary police at403-266-1234or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.calgarycrimestoppers.org.

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