NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
***********************
Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 8 District (Grimsby/West Lincoln /Lincoln) uniform officers and detectives are investigating after two distraction theft incidents from two Grimsby grocery stores.
On Dec. 14, 2023, the female victim was followed into the Sobeys parking lot. While the victim loaded items into her car a female suspect approached her and asked her a “distraction” question. When the victim looked back to her cart her wallet had been stolen. The suspects then used the stolen credit cards to attempt cash withdrawals and purchases.
The female suspect is described as:
- female, Indigenous
- 35-45 years old
- heavy build
- thick rimmed black glasses
- carrying a large black purse
Wearing the following:
- black toque with "MK" written repeatedly around it with a pompom on the top.
- navy blue puffy winter jacket
- black track pants with thick white stripe down both sides
- black running shoes with red laces.
The male suspect is described as:
- male, Indigenous
- 35-45 years old
- 5'6"
- short beard and mustache, dark in colour
- muscular build
Wearing the following:
- black running shoes.
- blue jeans faded on the front
- black toque
- navy blue Tommy Hilfiger jacket with a white pattern on it
On Dec. 16, 2023, an unknown male suspect had been targeting a female customer while she was shopping at the Grimsby Food Basics. The suspect watched the victim and waited till she was choosing items off the shelf. While the victim was distracted, the suspect stole her purse and its contents. The suspect then used the stolen credit cards to make purchases and cash withdrawals ($2,000).
The male suspect (see photos) is described as:
- white male
- 55-70 years old
- approximately 5’ 9’s tall
- medium build
- short grey hair
- distinctive large dark eyebrows
Wearing the following:
- black jacket
- black pants
- black baseball cap
- black and white running shoes.
Officers suspect these two incidents are related and there are at least three suspects (two males, one female) involved. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009649.
Members of the public who wish to supply information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
***********************
