Police warn of distraction thefts targeting elderly

A map shows the locations of three distraction thefts reported in Toronto last week. (Google Maps)

Police are warning seniors of a string of distraction thefts reported across the Toronto area.

Thieves appear to be targeting elderly people who speak little to no English, police said in a statement Wednesday.

In the statement, officers gave three examples of thefts reported recently, but said several similar incidents have happened across the city.

Last Wednesday, a 76-year-old woman was walking in the area of King Street West and Close Avenue when she was approached by a woman in a white car.

The woman asked the senior for directions to a hospital. While engaged in conversation, she placed a necklace on the victim's neck, and removed rings from her fingers. As the suspect drove off, the victim realized her rings were gone.

On Friday, a 76-year-old man was sitting on the front porch of his home, in the area of Shaw and Harbord Streets, when a man drove up and stopped in front of the home. Police said the driver asked the victim if he spoke Portuguese, and the victim said he only spoke Italian.

A woman got out of the car and approached the front porch and asked for directions to a nearby hospital. She then offered him a necklace and a ring for his assistance, police said. The man accepted the items, then went into his home.

As he showed his wife the gifts, they realized his gold chain and crucifix were missing. He told police the male driver was a white man, aged 40 to 50. The female passenger was white, 5-foot-5 and between the ages of 40 and 50. They were driving in a small, dark four-door vehicle.

A similar incident was reported the same day, approximately two kilometres south at Dovercourt Road and Foxley Street.

Police said an 83-year-old woman was walking along Foxley when a man and woman pulled up in a vehicle. The car stopped and a woman approached the elderly victim, asking for directions to Highway 401.

In return for the directions, the suspect offered the senior a necklace. The elderly woman didn't accept the necklace, as she'd heard from neighbours of a scam where people were taking real jewelry off seniors and replacing it with fake jewelry.

The elderly woman told police she tucked her necklace in her shirt, then pulled her jacket closed. The suspect kept trying to put a necklace around the elderly woman's neck, but the woman pushed her off and walked away.

The female suspect was described as a white woman who is approximately 5-foot-5 with long, brown, curly hair and a medium build. She was wearing several necklaces at the time. The male driver was described as white, between the ages of 45 and 50 and bald.

Police issued a statement describing the incidents and warned that similar thefts have been reported across the city. The suspect or suspects give the victims worthless jewelry while stealing their expensive items.

Police said they believe there may be more victims, and warned the public to "keep vigilant" and report any suspicious behaviour to police.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact officers at 416-808-1400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).