‘I was violated’: Ottawa police warn of distraction thefts after two incidents hours apart

Ottawa police are warning residents to be vigilant when it comes to distraction thefts. CTV’s Katelyn Wilson speaks with two recent victims.

Ottawa police are warning people, especially seniors, to stay vigilant as distraction thefts continue to happen across the city.

Police say these thefts often involve suspects posing as friendly strangers. They may ask for help, offer jewelry or try to place items on someone, while another person steals valuables.

In one case Monday, Sang La says he was taking out the garbage behind his restaurant on Somerset Street West when two men pulled up and tried to hand him something.

La’s daughter, who translated for him, said it was a gold chain.

“They offered to him and he said, ‘no, no,’ rejected it and then walked away,” said his daughter Phung La.

That’s when she says the situation escalated, with one of the men choking her father and stealing his necklace.

“My mom’s mom gave it to him, and he’s been wearing it for 20 years,” said La. “He also attached his wedding ring to it. He is a bit shook up, I would say, a bit traumatized.”

Video captured the moments after the alleged robbery, showing La running after what appears to be a dark-coloured BMW just before 2:30 p.m.

About three hours later, Marie Roberge says she was targeted in a similar incident in the parking lot of the Billings Bridge Walmart.

Roberge says she was approached by three people in a vehicle. A woman asked for help, then tried to hand her a gold chain as a thank you.

“She was engaging me for about five minutes, talking to me about how her grandmother died... she pulled my hand, my right hand towards her, she kissed my hand and I’m like ‘no, no, stop,’ and then next thing you know a minute or two later, she reached out, pulled me by the back of my neck over her passenger side door,” Roberge said.

“The worst of it was when I pulled back, her finger got loose, my chain left my neck. She ripped it off my neck and they sped away. In a matter of one minute, as an older person, I was assaulted, I was robbed, I was violated in broad daylight. People are coming out of the store, people are going into the store, nobody stopped.”

Roberge says the necklace had been a gift from her late husband and planned to leave it as an inheritance for her grandchildren.

“I can’t get that back, it was the last thing my ex-husband ever bought for me,” she said.

Ottawa police say they are seeing more of these distraction thefts, though they cannot say whether the two incidents are connected.

Police say warmer weather can also create more opportunity, as people wear fewer layers and jewelry becomes more visible.

“I’m not going to say to not talk to people, we are friendly people and if someone wants help you should offer them help, but keep your distance, be alert, make eye contact and if they get too close say stay back,” said Sgt. Andrew Worth of the Ottawa Police Service.

“We do know that there are groups that move through the province. Are they all connected? I don’t know, but they are professionals.”

Police say if something like this happens, people should not follow suspects. Instead, they should try to get a vehicle description, direction of travel, and any details about clothing or physical appearance, then report it to police.

They are also encouraging people to talk to friends and family, especially seniors, about how to stay safe.

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