Police warn of rise in ‘distraction thefts’

Winnipeg police warned Wednesday of an increase in “alarming” distraction thefts — mirroring trends in other Canadian cities — after victims, including seniors, were targeted at or near their homes.

The thefts are becoming increasingly aggressive and physical, said police, who believe the thieves responsible for at least three recent incidents preyed on seniors who were not fluent in English in order to steal expensive gold jewelry.

“These individuals are very, very good at what they do, not only in the distraction techniques they are using, but even identifying the quality of the jewelry their victims are wearing,” Const. Claude Chancy said.

“These individuals prey on the kindness of their victims. They’re very approachable, they seem very friendly. It’s almost happened like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Thieves — in pairs or groups, and occasionally with children — typically approach a potential victim with a story, often involving a predicament or a request for directions, money or other help.

While the conversation progresses, a thief usually distracts the victim by hugging them, shaking their hand or putting a gift, such as fake jewelry, into their hand. These close encounters allow thieves to remove rings, bracelets or necklaces.

“They do this very quickly. In a majority of cases, the victims are not even aware that it happened until they figure out that the jewelry is not theirs, that they’re wearing,” Chancy said.

“In a majority of cases, the victims are not even aware that it happened until they figure out that that jewelry is not theirs, that they’re wearing.”

The Winnipeg Police Service has received dozens of reports since March, primarily from the city’s south end.

Some victims lost a wedding ring or gold jewelry that was passed down through generations. Some losses were worth $3,000 to $6,000.

Police said distraction thieves typically travel from city to city in rental vehicles with Alberta, B.C. or Quebec licence plates. They are known to stay in motels on the outskirts of cities or in rural areas.

Police in provinces from B.C. to Quebec have reported spikes in distraction thefts this year.

Victims, usually seniors, were typically approached outside stores or in parking lots in the past. Citing three recent thefts in south Winnipeg, police said thieves are now looking for victims outside homes or on neighbourhood sidewalks.

The first incident happened at a home on Drake Boulevard in St. Boniface at about 11:20 a.m. on Sept. 18. A woman arrived in a dark SUV under the guise of praying for an ill family member, Chancy said.

She placed fake jewelry in the victim’s hands to distract them, and then stole two rings and a necklace the victim was wearing.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, a person stole a bracelet while attempting to hug a victim on Bridgeland Drive South in Bridgwater. The thief arrived in a dark SUV.

The third incident happened on John Bruce Road East in Royalwood at about 6:25 p.m. Saturday. An elderly couple was walking when a man and woman pulled up in a vehicle. The woman replaced the female victim’s jewelry with counterfeit jewelry while trying to get close to the victim.

The suspects appeared to be South Asian and spoke Hindi in two of the incidents, Chancy said.

A woman who lives on John Bruce Road East said police visited her home while canvassing for witnesses and surveillance video just east of the Seine River and Bois-des-Esprits.

The woman, who declined to give her name, said she was shaken when police told her about the incident.

“I’ve always felt safe here, but now I don’t know,” she said.

Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities, said distraction thefts are yet another deception that people need to be aware of. Manitoba RCMP last week warned of an uptick in grandparent phone scam reports.

“It’s the same old story,” Newman said. “We need to work together as society to stop people taking advantage of vulnerable people.”

“We need to work together as society to stop people taking advantage of vulnerable people.”

Winnipeg police believe some recent distraction thefts or encounters were not reported. Chancy urged people to be vigilant and report all incidents, even if nothing was stolen.

He said people should keep their jewelry hidden, if worn in public, and decline any request if approached in a similar manner.

Take note of the suspects, their vehicle and its licence plate, and provide any photos or videos of the people or vehicle, if recorded, to police, Chancy said.

Police expect the suspects to move on to a different city, if they haven’t already.

Anyone with information, or pictures or video of distraction thieves is asked to call the WPS’ major crimes unit at 204-986-6219, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

Winnipeg Crime Stoppers chair Robert MacKenzie has spoken to victims in the past.

“Most of the stories that we hear, it’s unfortunate but their trust is shattered, and they don’t ever want to help anybody ever again,” he said. “They won’t open their door to a stranger again, or they won’t stop on the side of the road to help a stranger again.

“It’s really a demoralizing crime that has a negative impact on our society in the long term.”

Police, meanwhile, are still looking for Ionut-Vasile Bivolaru, 31, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in a distraction theft in the 500 block of Toronto Street on Aug. 1.

Bivolaru allegedly stole a gold chain from a 29-year-old man’s neck, replacing it with a fake one, police said.

The victim suffered minor injuries in a fall that occurred while the suspect fled in a vehicle, Chancy said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca