Distraction thefts affecting seniors in South Etobicoke and elsewhere

Update:

A September 2015 Toronto Life article ranks Toronto neighbourhoods by variables including crime rates:

The ultimate Toronto neighbourhood rankings

[End of update]

By way of a follow-up to a recent message to my email mailing list, I would like to note that South Etobicoke has recently been subjected to the kind of distraction theft – focusing on seniors – that has been occurring across the GTA.

This post provides an overview of what occurs in such crimes:

1) A July 14, 2015 Central Etobicoke Neighbourhood Watch notice is entitled:

Public Safety Alert: Distraction Theft, Police believe there may be other victims

1) An August 14, 2015 CBC article is entitled:

Police warning GTA seniors about distraction thefts : Scam involves seniors distracted by small talk and requests for directions

3) An August 22, 201 message from Peel Police is also of relevance:

Peel Police – Investigators Seek Public’s Assistance in Identifying Distraction Theft Suspects

The above-noted message refers to theft of PIN and credit card numbers after wallets are stolen from seniors, as part of a distraction strategy.

South Etobicoke

4) A distraction theft involving a resident, who is a senior citizen in South Etobicoke, occurred on September 14, 2015.

I spoke with the resident, who is a highly resilient person in her early 90s, yesterday. She reported that she was approached on two occasions on September 14, 2015 by a man and woman in a blue car, with Quebec license plates as she recalls. On the first occasion, the chains around her neck were retained in place. After the second encounter, when she got home, she noted that the chains were gone. Police from 22 Division investigated at once.

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