Police arrest purse snatcher - 47 complaints have been filed with the police.

By Staff

March 5th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

Police have been investigating multiple criminal groups targeting women and seniors for distraction type of purse and wallet thefts. These have occurred at various grocery and retail stores in Burlington and Oakville.

Police have received 47 reports of such thefts since the beginning of November 2017 where persons targeted were female senior citizens whose purses and/or wallets were stolen from their shopping carts while the owner was not looking. In some cases multiple offenders work in teams to distract the victim, bump their carts or ask for their assistance in the store or parking lot.

Investigators have been working with area Loss Prevention Officers to identify the persons responsible which resulted in them being positively identified.

On February 22nd 2018 the following accused was arrested for multiple thefts in Burlington and Oakville and has been released on bail to appear next in Milton Court on April 3rd 2018:

Brenda STOJKOVA (20 years) of the Czech Republic, residing in Brampton is charged with:

• Theft under $5000 (Three Counts)
• Fraud Under $5000
• Unauthorized use of a credit card.

Watch the Crime Stoppers Video of purse thefts (actual footage).

Halton Regional Police are reminding residents to keep a close eye on their purses and wallets.  Residents should be aware of their surroundings and be alert for distraction type thefts when shopping in the grocery stores, malls and other retail business.

Prevention Tip: Residents are reminded to only carry the necessary identification such as Driver’s Licence or Health Card, and should try to minimize this potential loss by leaving their SIN card, birth certificate and passports securely at home.

If you become a victim of a purse or wallet theft please contact your financial services providers, cancel you cards and then call the Halton Regional Police to file a report.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents or other purse thefts is asked to contact Detective Constable Derek Gray of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Vulnerable Persons and Seniors Liaison Team at 905-825-4747 ext. 2344.

A safe, secure, confidential place to call with information that will keep our streets safe.

Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).