The Guelph Police Service are urging residents to be careful when dealing with strangers after another attempted distraction theft. Police said a man was working in his driveway, near Grange Road and Cityview Drive North on Tuesday around 3 p.m., when two people in an SUV stopped and asked for directions. The couple then tried giving the complainant a gold ring and chain. The complainant moved away from the SUV, as he was wearing a thick gold chain and suspected the couple would try to steal it. The pair quickly fled the area. The couple were in a black SUV and described as a Middle Eastern male and female. “Police services across Ontario have seen an increase in these distraction-type thefts. Typically, older adults are approached by individuals in a vehicle and engaged in conversation, during which a female passenger will attempt to initiate physical contact by hugging or attempting to place jewelry on the victim. Afterwards the victim realizes their jewelry has been stolen,” police said in a media release. Police said suspects may appear friendly, well-spoken and may approach potential victims in moments where they may be distracted, such as shopping centres, sidewalks and getting in or out of a vehicle. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Guelph Police at 519-824-1212, ext. 7570.
