Police issue warning after clever thieves target senior in Barrie parking lot

An empty shopping cart sat in a parking lot in this undated stock image. (Paul Seling/Pexels.com)

Barrie police hope to identify two suspects accused of a distraction theft that resulted in the loss of a sentimental item from a senior shopping in the city’s south east end.

Police say the senior was in the parking lot of the Costco on Mapleview Drive East early Thursday afternoon when he noticed a vehicle with a man and a woman slowly roll by as he unloaded his purchases.

The suspicious vehicle circled back to the senior and the woman got out and approached him as he made his way back to his car after returning his shopping cart.

According to police, the woman “very quickly placed a gold chain around his neck and pushed two gold rings onto his fingers.”

After the senior explained he didn’t want the items, police say the woman removed them, but instead of taking back what was later determined to be a fake chain, she stole his real gold chain with a dolphin pendant on it.

“The theft of the gold chain is estimated at $4,500, but more disturbing than the theft is the sentimental value that the chain and the dolphin pendent represented to the victim,” stated Barrie police Corporate Communications Coordinator Peter Leon in a Friday release.

Police obtained surveillance video of the incident and are investigating. They say this type of distraction theft often targets seniors in parking lots or when they are alone.

“The Barrie Police Service strongly encourages members of our community to be aware of strangers who quickly approach you in the manner identified above,” Leon added. “These people are up to no good and will act very quickly to steal what is yours by catching you off guard.

Police encourage the public, that if ever approached in this way, to call out and yell for help. Parking lots are busy places, and it is hoped that someone will come to assist you or call the police for you."

No description of the suspects was provided.