Toronto police have called for a media briefing tomorrow morning to discuss the recent surge in distraction-style thefts happening across the city, particularly affecting vulnerable residents.
Scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Media Gallery in Toronto Police Headquarters, Chief Superintendent Mandeep Mann of Field Services will address the press. He will shed light on the extent of the issue and provide helpful tips for residents to safeguard themselves against these deceptive tactics.
This announcement comes in the wake of a string of prominent cases over the past few months. Authorities have identified four suspects involved in multiple distraction thefts at ATMs from October 2024 to February 2025, and are now searching for a fifth accomplice. In these incidents, elderly individuals were targeted at bank machines, tricked into distraction, and had their bank cards pilfered for later unauthorized withdrawals.
The problem is not confined to Toronto alone. Nationally, law enforcement agencies have issued warnings about the uptick in distraction thefts, which involve tactics like feigning emergencies or spinning elaborate tales to gain victims’ trust before making off with their belongings.
Toronto police emphasize that the focus of Wednesday’s briefing will be on prevention, offering practical guidance for residents to identify and steer clear of these fraudulent schemes.