A lone thief hatched a plan in advance to rob visiting teams at the World Women's Curling Championships in Vernon, B.C., and made off with about $10,000 in Canadian and foreign currency, police said Tuesday.

Vernon RCMP say 11 rooms in the Prestige Hotel were broken into Sunday and a male thief made off with about $10,000 in Canadian and foreign currency.Vernon RCMP say 11 rooms in the Prestige Hotel were broken into Sunday and a male thief made off with about $10,000 in Canadian and foreign currency.
(CBC)

A surveillance video taken at the Prestige Hotel — where the teams were staying — showed a man walking down the hallway around the time the 11 rooms were broken into Sunday afternoon, police said.

Vernon RCMP spokesman Sgt. Cam Percy said the man is likely the thief and noted that he targeted the teams that were curling at the time.

"The suspect was aware of who he was trying to victimize and there was some planning involved," Percy said.

Police are still looking for the suspect.

RCMP say they believe this man, as seen in a hotel surveillance tape, is the suspect they are looking for after the weekend burglaries in Vernon, B.C. RCMP say they believe this man, as seen in a hotel surveillance tape, is the suspect they are looking for after the weekend burglaries in Vernon, B.C.
(CBC)

Some local curling fans said they are disgusted.

"That's a black mark for all of Canada, but especially Vernon," said Kathy Vandresar. "It could be somebody local. I hope they're caught."

The coach of the Italian team, Jean Pierre Rutsche, said he had money and his team jacket stolen but his team is not disheartened about the tournament in general.

"I said to my team, 'Forget it, [it's] just a small thing. We are focused on the win.'" Rutsche said Tuesday.

"We come from Italy. In Italy, you're not surprised if you come back and your car is gone!" he said.

Canada and China were competing at the World Women's Curling Championships in Vernon, B.C., Sunday when the burglaries took place in a nearby hotel where the teams reside.Canada and China were competing at the World Women's Curling Championships in Vernon, B.C., Sunday when the burglaries took place in a nearby hotel where the teams reside.
(CBC)

Event organizer Toby Oswald-Felker said it's unfortunate that this has happened, but the games go on.

"These are high-level athletes. They're here to curl. And that's what they're going to focus on," she said.

The Canadian team didn't lose any money, but hope the incident hasn't coloured the other teams' impressions of Canada.

"I hope the teams don't take it that's it's a Canadian thing by any means," Canadian team member Jill Officer said Tuesday.

"It's just an unfortunate situation. Hopefully they can get some sort of compensation for their loss," she said.