Waterloo Regional Police say there has been an increase in distraction thefts where the scammers specifically target elderly residents. “Since June, we’ve had approximately 15 of these distraction thefts reported to us,” said Const. Chris Iden. One of them was Maria Ferreira. The 86-year-old was putting groceries into her car Aug. 15 when a group of strangers pulled up in vehicle beside her and asked for directions. “The girl from the back of the car called me and said, ‘Come over here, come over here!’” Ferreira recalled. When she moved closer, the young woman placed a fake necklace around her neck while simultaneously removing the real one she was wearing. “She put a necklace on my neck, and I didn’t notice,” Ferreira said. “She took my beautiful necklace, a gold necklace.” Not only was unaware of the swap, but the strangers never even left their vehicle to do it. Police said similar incidents have also been reported across Waterloo Region. “They try to invite the [victim] closer into either a vehicle or closer to themselves, where they have that opportunity to perhaps commit the crime,” Iden explained. It is not until the strangers have left that the victim realizes what really happened. “It just breaks my heart because it not only happened to my grandma,” said Sabrina Ferreira. Police have asked residents to share details of the scam with older family members, friends and neighbours. “Spread the word around,” advised Iden. “Talk to anybody in your family that may be victimized by this type of crime.” Ferreira wanted her experience to serve as an example for others. “I hope older people, the same age as I am, don’t let those people do that because I let them do it and I should never have let them do it,” she said. Anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour, similar what Ferreira described, is asked to take note of what the suspects looked like, the vehicle they drove and its licence plate, then contact Waterloo Regional Police.
