Police issue warning after several local ‘distraction theft’ incidents

Police have issued an alert to the public after receiving multiple reports of distraction theft-related incidents in the community. 

Those incidents have been reported in the area of Pinebush Road in Cambridge, Ottawa Street South in Kitchener and Farmers Market Road in Woolwich Township. 

According to police, five reports have been received from victims between December 13 and December 21. 

Police said that victims report being approached by unknown suspects advising that there is an issue with their parked vehicle. It's alleged that one suspect distracts the victim with the vehicle issue, while another involved suspect enters the victim's vehicle to steal any wallets, purses or valuables. 

All five incidents are reported to have happened in shopping plaza parking lots. 

Noting one specific instance, a victim was in the parking lot of a business in the Pinebush Road area of Cambridge when an unknown suspect told her that she had a thumb tack stuck in her rear passenger tire. When that victim went to inspect her tire, a second suspect opened the trunk of her vehicle and stole her wallet containing cash and credit cards. 

Police said that the suspects appear to be targeting women over the age of sixty, though they note that the fraudsters will likely take advantage of anyone. 

Regional police have since shared an image of an individual they'd like to speak to in connection to one of the incidents. 

If you've been a victim of a distraction theft not yet reported to regional police, you're encouraged to do so by calling 519-570-9777. You can also find a number of tips to protect yourself from theft here.