On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers and the Greater Sudbury Police Service are urging residents to remain vigilant following a recent spike in distraction thefts across the region.
Authorities have released details of several incidents and are seeking the public’s help in identifying suspects.
February incident: Locker thefts at fitness facility
February distraction theft incident: Locker thefts at fitness facility On Feb. 12 and 13, a man broke into lockers at a New Sudbury fitness centre, stealing bank and credit cards. The cards were then used to make numerous purchases. Authorities released this surveillance image of the suspect. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
On Feb. 12 and 13, a man broke into lockers at a New Sudbury fitness centre, stealing bank and credit cards.
“The cards were used in numerous purchases, amounting to about $7,500,” Crime Stoppers said.
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February distraction theft incident: Locker thefts at fitness facility On Feb. 12 and 13, a man broke into lockers at a New Sudbury fitness centre, stealing bank and credit cards. The cards were then used to make numerous purchases. Authorities released this surveillance image of suspect. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
February distraction theft incident: Locker thefts at fitness facility On Feb. 12 and 13, a man broke into lockers at a New Sudbury fitness centre, stealing bank and credit cards. The cards were then used to make numerous purchases. Authorities released this surveillance image of suspect. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
February distraction theft incident: Locker thefts at fitness facility On Feb. 12 and 13, a man broke into lockers at a New Sudbury fitness centre, stealing bank and credit cards. The cards were then used to make numerous purchases. Authorities released this surveillance image of suspect. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
“Any information leading to the identity of this person would be greatly appreciated,” Crime Stoppers said.
March incident: Grocery store distraction
March distraction theft incident: Grocery store distraction On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of the suspects. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store.
“A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart,” Crime Stoppers said.
The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently, resulting in more than $2,000 in losses.
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March distraction theft incident: Grocery store distraction On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of the suspects. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
March distraction theft incident: Grocery store distraction On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of the suspects. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
March distraction theft incident: Grocery store distraction On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of the suspects. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April incidents: Parking lot and store thefts
Two more incidents occurred earlier this month.
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
On April 6, a woman in a New Sudbury parking lot was told she had tacks in her tire.
“While distracted by the female suspect, another culprit took her purse,” Crime Stoppers said.
The stolen cards were used for fraudulent purchases.
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April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Parking lot theft On March 19, a vulnerable shopper was targeted at a local grocery store. A male distracted her with questions about products while a female accomplice stole her wallet and phone from her cart. The victim’s credit card was later used fraudulently. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
Two days later, on April 8, a shopper was approached by a man asking about store products while an accomplice stole her credit cards.
April distraction theft incident: Store theft On April 8, a shopper was approached by a man asking about store products while an accomplice stole her credit cards. The cards were then used fraudulently at another location. Authorities released this surveillance image of two of the suspects. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
“The cards were fraudulently used at another location,” Crime Stoppers confirmed.
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April distraction theft incident: Store theft On April 8, a shopper was approached by a man asking about store products while an accomplice stole her credit cards. The cards were then used fraudulently at another location. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Store theft On April 8, a shopper was approached by a man asking about store products while an accomplice stole her credit cards. The cards were then used fraudulently at another location. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Store theft On April 8, a shopper was approached by a man asking about store products while an accomplice stole her credit cards. The cards were then used fraudulently at another location. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
April distraction theft incident: Store theft On April 8, a shopper was approached by a man asking about store products while an accomplice stole her credit cards. The cards were then used fraudulently at another location. Authorities released this surveillance image of one of the suspects involved. (Sudbury Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
Police have released surveillance images of suspects in these cases (shown above) and are asking for help identifying them.
“Any information leading to the identity of this person would be greatly appreciated,” Crime Stoppers wrote in one of its posts.
How to Help
“Crime Stoppers shares these posts from law enforcement agencies to raise awareness and seek community assistance,” the organization said.
If residents have any information on these thefts or any other crimes, tips can be submitted anonymously to Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477, toll-free at 1-800-222-8477, or online at SudburyCrimStoppers.com.
