Man, woman charged in ‘distraction-style thefts’ of the elderly in Vaughan

York Regional Police have arrested and charged a man and a woman with distraction-style thefts targeting elderly people in Vaughan.

Investigators were notified of separate incidents on May 29 and May 31 around 6 p.m. that allegedly involved two suspects in an SUV approaching elderly victims who were out walking.

Police said the suspects would converse with the victims and ask for directions. During the interactions, they tried to gift the victims cheap costume jewelry by placing it on their hands or neck.

The suspects allegedly used this distraction to remove the victims’ valuable jewelry, and police said when their attempts failed, the pair used force.

In the first incident, police said a 77-year-old man was held and dragged alongside a moving vehicle in the Chelwood Drive area in Vaughan while the suspects tried to remove his jewelry. The man sustained minor injuries.

Police said a 63-year-old woman was assaulted and sustained minor injuries in a separate incident in the Flamingo Road area of Thornhill, Ont.

Man, woman arrested after third reported jewelry theft

In a third reported incident, police said just before 12:30 p.m. on June 5, two suspects in a silver Ford Escape approached a 62-year-old man in a parking lot near Jane Street and Rutherford Road in Vaughan and asked for directions.

After the man acknowledged the pair, police said a female suspect expressed appreciation and placed a cheap necklace around the victim’s neck while removing his valuable necklace. The two suspects fled in their vehicle.

Investigators located the vehicle a short time later, and a search of the suspects’ vehicle led to the recovery of the 62-year-old victim’s gold necklace and a seizure of a quantity of jewelry. Authorities confirmed all three incidents involved the same suspects.

Police identified Nicolae Oinescu and Isaura Alesandru, both 26 and from Toronto. They’re charged with two counts of robbery, theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Investigators released photos of the accused as it is believed they have been active in York Region, along with other suspects, committing similar crimes.

York Regional Police cautioned to be wary of anyone being approached by strangers in vehicles asking for directions or engaging in unexpected conversation.