After reading about the con man in Common Ground last month my partner, Elena, recognized Bobby. She got in touch with the magazine. Here is our encounter with “Bobby” to the best of my recollection. Any errors are mine.

Photo supplied by a victim who filed an assault charge against Bobby with the Burnaby RCMP.

Around December 15th - 20th 2006 my roommate, Sean, was waiting at Lonsdale Quay. As he was having a smoke an RCMP car pulled up, a female officer got out, opened the back door, and Bobby got out. She gave him a hug, some cash, two smokes and left. A passerby asked Sean for a smoke, but he had none. Bobby overheard this and kindly offered them each one. Sean thanked him while telling him that he was generous to a fault! He also noted the Hugo Boss suit, and Cartier watch that he was wearing. Immediately, Bobby went in to a spiel about how he was simply grateful after the harrowing ordeal he had just been through. Having been conned once before, Sean was wary, but against his better judgment asked Bobby to relate his tale. Bobby explained that while on a business trip to Seattle he had come to Vancouver for a few days and upon arriving had been mugged on Lonsdale for his laptop, wallet, money, and ID including passport. With all the evidence before him Sean decided to take a risk and invited Bobby to our apartment as he was penniless.

The story becomes very complex from that point, but the result was that Bobby managed to wring almost a week or more out on our couch, and $300 out of Sean through various promises including a ticket for two to Australia, and a truck to start a business. He backed up all of this with fake phone calls to his ‘wife’ (read co-conspirator) in front of us, and various anecdotes about wealthy people including the Kennedy’s daughter whom he regularly drank with, and Jim Pattison who was to provide the truck after a single phone call.

The bubble burst after Sean informed me about the truck, as Elena had just told me that Bobby had tried to sexually assault her earlier that day. Bobby had foreseen that I would want him out and was trying to give my roommate another reason to want him to stay. Sowing discord and enmity between us was just one of the methods he used to keep the focus off of him and his actions.

Early that night, when Sean confronted Bobby about the money he became violent, but Sean calmed him down just before I came in, and told him to leave in the morning.

It was just after Christmas, with snow on the ground when Bobby disappeared with some clothes, a ring, Sean’s house keys, and some cheques, one of which he cashed a week later at Sean’s bank for $1700.

We all felt disgusted, and rather bitter, but also relieved that it was over.

A couple of days later Bobby reappeared, drunk, and trying to break into our apartment while we slept. Some one called the police and he ran and hid in a neighbor’s patio, tapping on the glass, and whispering to be let in. The neighbor, who is from war torn Somalia, opened the sliding door and Bobby jumped in. But my brave and cautious friend had armed himself with a machete which he used to drive Bobby back. The police then piled in, and Bobby was led away.

We didn’t hear of him again until Elena saw him entering a fancy restaurant in Yaletown last month just as the story came out. Bobby was dressed well and gesticulating wildly, while spinning another tale for another victim.

Looking back, I realized that Bobby was probably being released from police custody when Sean met him at the Quay. All he had was the clothes on his back, the watch, and two smokes. No money. No where to sleep. He used those few things, and his skill to con the first person he encountered. He is an expert. He is no fool. To do a good thing, to help, is honorable; to do so while putting yourself and your loved ones in danger is irresponsible.

Everything Bobby said was too good to be true. He is a dangerous person. He does not appear to be lying, and has a photographic memory. Do not let this man into your home. Do not help him in any way. Phone Vancouver Police with regards to file # 07-99338.

Editor’s note: the above personal account is from one of the many people who responded to CG’s small article last month titled Warning: con man.