UPDATE
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has informed the media that a suspect in the original release is not involved with the case.
The HRPS says it managed to get ahold of the man and confirm that he is not involved. His photo has been removed from the article.
ORIGINAL (Published on Friday, March 18th at 9:18 a.m.)
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) needs your help in identifying a group of suspects in a series of purse and wallet thefts that have taken place throughout Halton.
Between April 2021 and March 2022 there have been 16 thefts involving a group of six different suspects identified by police.
The suspects typically target older adults in retail and grocery stores throughout the region.
In many cases the victim’s personal identification number were also stolen, and the tap functions of their financial cards were used to make fraudulent purchases.
The suspects have been working in pairs and distracting their victims while shopping. One suspect will engage the victim in conversation while the other steals a wallet and/ or purse. In some instances, the older adult’s vehicles are also entered while one suspect distracts the victim by loading their groceries.
The estimated total losses of these 16 occurrences totals more than $25, 000.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Derek Gray of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4777 ext. 2344 or via email at Derek.gray@haltonpolice.ca.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
Photos of suspects below:
