Arrests made in ‘troubling’ distraction thefts targeting vulnerable victims: Toronto police

Toronto police have released these images of two suspects wanted in distraction thefts in Toronto. (Toronto Police Service handout)

Toronto police say arrests have been made following an investigation into numerous distraction thefts targeting vulnerable residents in the GTA.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday afternoon, Supt. Ron Taverner described one of the distraction thefts that 23 Division officers investigated.

Police said on Feb. 26, officers were called to a robbery near Woodbine Downs Boulevard and Finch Avenue.

Taverner said a victim was sitting in a vehicle when she was approached by suspects in a parking lot. The suspects, Taverner said, offered her counterfeit jewelry and a fake iPhone while removing the victim’s real jewelry.

The suspects, according to police, “forcefully” removed gold chains from the neck of the victim, who sustained minor injuries.

He said two suspects, identified as Patricia Ghivea, 20, and Loredana Gardian, 23, were subsequently arrested in connection with the robbery and police believe they are responsible for multiple other incidents across the region. They are facing a number of charges, including robbery with violence.

Investigators have now released images of the suspects in an effort to identify other potential victims.

He said the suspects who were arrested were from Romania and were just visiting.

There are several groups across Ontario that are carrying out distraction thefts and Taverner said many are not from Canada.

“We believe that in a lot of cases, these people are here on visitor visas, etc. and so that’s creating a much more difficult way that we have to locate them, find them,” he said.

“For example, a lot of their drivers’ licences are still in their country of origin.”

The news conference comes following the release of the results of Project Jetsetter, a Durham police probe that investigators say uncovered a network of criminal tourists operating in the GTA.

Taverner noted that the level of violence being used in the distraction robberies is “troubling.”

He said most of the victims are older, including some in their 80s and 90s. Some of the elderly victims have been hospitalized as a result of distraction thefts.

Avoid ‘overly friendly’ strangers

“As Toronto prepares to welcome visitors from around the world during the FIFA World Cup, it is important that residents and visitors alike remain aware of their surroundings, in particular in busy public spaces,” Taverner said.

He offered tips for people to stay safe during the busy summer months, including keeping purses and backpacks zipped, never leaving personal belongings unattended, keeping phones in front pockets, and being cautious when approached by “overly friendly” strangers who try to put things in your hands.

“These suspects often rely on the kindness politeness and trust of others,” Taverner said, adding that sometimes children are used to aid in the distraction and suspects often work in pairs.

“If something feels unusual or makes you uncomfortable, trust your instincts.”