Arrest made after police say suspect used child as decoy in Markham break-in
Posted December 14, 2023 3:21 pm.
Last Updated December 15, 2023 6:34 pm.
York Regional Police have arrested an Oshawa man after he allegedly used a small child as a decoy in a series of home break-ins in Markham.
One of the incidents took place on Wednesday, December 13 at around noon.
According to police, a boy between the ages of 10 and 12 rang the doorbell of a home near Rodick Road and 16th Avenue in Markham, telling the homeowner they had inadvertently kicked a ball into their backyard and wanted help getting it back.
The homeowner agreed and walked with the boy into the backyard to look for the ball.
When they couldn’t find it, police say the child left.
But when the homeowner returned to the front of the house, they noticed an adult male exiting the residence.
“The investigation revealed that as the complainant brought the child to the backyard, an adult male emerged from a hiding spot and snuck into the residence through the unlocked front door,” a police release explained.
“The suspect went through some rooms, stole cash from a purse and then exited the front door. It is believed the suspect arrived in the neighbourhood in a black 2020 Honda Civic with a faded licence plate.”
A similar incident occurred on December 6, at around 4:25 p.m., in the McCowan Road and Raymerville Drive area.
“In that case, a boy and a girl told the occupant of a house that they lost a ball in the backyard. The complainant felt it was suspicious and refused to cooperate. The children left and no ball was found,” police said.
The suspect was finally nabbed on Friday after police say he attended a home in the area of Woodbine Avenue and 16th Avenue and again attempted to use the child as a distraction to enter the home.
“However, the complainant was aware of this distraction technique due to public awareness through a media release and contacted police,” a release states.
The suspect was arrested a short time later.
Ivadar Padure, 23, has been charged with three counts of break and enter.
Police say the child, who was under the age of 12, was not charged.
