Barrie Police are urging seniors to be vigilant after a disturbing incident in a store parking lot.
On Thursday June 19th just before 2:00 p.m., a Wasaga Beach senior had been shopping at a Mapleview Drive East big box store and as he was loading the items that he purchased into his car, he saw an approaching car with a male and female suspiciously drive slowly by him.
After the man had place his shopping cart into the coral and made his way back to his car, an unknown female got out of the suspicious car which had just circled back. She very quickly placed a gold chain around his neck and pushed two gold rings onto his fingers.
The senior did not want these items and as she was removing them, she took a real gold chain he was wearing that had a dolphin pendant on it, leaving behind what was later determined to be a fake gold chain.
The theft of the gold chain is estimated at $4,500, but more disturbing than the theft is the sentimental value that the chain and the dolphin pendent represented to the victim.
This entire incident was captured on video surveillance and police are following up on details that were obtained from the video. Through the ongoing investigation, it is hoped that police will be able to identify and locate the male and female suspect.
This type of theft is often referred to as a distraction theft and is one that often targets senior age victims in parking lots or when they are alone.
The Barrie Police Service strongly encourages members of our community to be aware of strangers who quickly approach you in the manner identified above. These people are up to no good and will act very quickly to steal what is yours by catching you off guard. Police encourage the public, if ever approached in this way, to call out and yell for help. Parking lots are busy places, and it is hoped that someone will come to assist you or call the police for you.
If you know anything that can help in this investigation please contact Barrie Police or anonymously at Crime Stoppers.
