Public Safety Alert,
Additional Distraction Thefts reported,
Links provided to English, Spanish and Portuguese crime-prevention videos
Broadcast time: 05:59
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
14 Division
416-808-1400
The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of additional reports of
Distraction Thefts targeting seniors.
Since police alerted the public on Thursday, August 20, 2015, three more seniors have been
victimized by suspects using similar distraction techniques.
See previous release.
It is reported that:
- on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, a 76-year-old woman was walking in the King Street West
and Close Avenue area
- a car stopped and a woman exited the vehicle
- the woman asked the 76-year-old woman for directions to a hospital
- while engaging the 76-year-old woman in conversation, the woman placed a necklace on her
neck and removed rings from her fingers
- as the women drove off, the 76-year-old woman realized her rings were taken
The car is described as white.
No further suspect(s) descriptions are available.
It is also reported that:
- on Friday, August 21, 2015, a 76-year-old man was seated on the front porch of his home in
the Shaw Street and Harbord Street area
- a car driven by a man pulled up and stopped in front of the home
ID: 32622
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- the driver then asked the victim if he spoke Portuguese
- when the 76-year-old man responded he only spoke Italian, a woman exited the car and
approached the front porch
- the woman then asked the 76-year-old man for directions to a nearby hospital
- she offered the 76-year-old man a necklace and a ring for his assistance
- the 76-year-old man was reluctant but accepted the items and entered his home
- when the 76-year-old man showed his wife what he was given, she noticed his gold chain
and crucifix was missing from his neck
- they both went back outside but the woman and a car driven by a man were gone
The male driver is described as white and 40-50.
The female passenger is described as white, 5'5", 40-50, and average build.
The vehicle is described as a small, dark, four-door vehicle.
It is also reported that:
- on Friday, August 21, 2015, a 83-year-old women was walking in the Foxley Street and
Dovercourt Road area
- a car drove past the 83-year-old women on Foxley Street and appeared to be seeking a
parking spot
- the car stopped and a female passenger exited the car and approached the 83-year-old
women and asked directions to Highway 401
- the woman then wanted to give the 83-year-old women a necklace
- the 83-year-old women did not accept the necklace, as she had heard from neighbors in the
area that people were going around trying to take real jewelry off the elderly and replace it
with fake jewelry
- the 83-year-old women tucked her necklace into her shirt and pulled her jacket closed
- the woman persisted in trying to place a necklace around the 83-year-old woman's neck
- the 83-year-old woman pushed the woman off of her and walked away
The female passenger is described as white, 5'4" - 5'5", 38-40, with long, brown, curly hair,
and a medium build. She was wearing a large number of necklaces of various sizes and
colours.
The male driver is described as white, 45-50, bald, and a small build.
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The car used is described as grey and a four-door.
Similar Distraction Thefts have been taking place across the Greater Toronto Area. The
suspect(s) in these crimes distract the victims by giving them worthless jewelry while stealing
expensive jewelry, such as rings and necklaces, from the fingers and necks of the victims.
The suspect(s) seem to be targeting victims that speak little to no English.
Police believe there may be other victims.
The public is reminded to keep vigilant of these suspect(s) in their neighborhoods and to
report any suspicious behavior to police.
Crime Stoppers created YouTube videos in the following languages:
- English video
- Portuguese video
- Italian video
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400, Crime Stoppers
anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your
message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes,
Google Play or Blackberry App World.
Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.
Constable Caroline de Kloet, Corporate Communications, for Detective Anthony Williams, 14
Division
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