Police investigate series of jewelry thefts

CALGARY- Police are investigating a rash of jewelry thefts in which the perpetrators use a distraction tactic to make off with valuables.

Police say some of the cases involve a man or a woman approaching victims on foot, or after getting out of their car. They distract the victim by trying to sell them jewelry or by placing fake gold necklaces around their necks.

“The one method they like to utilize is to come up to you, begin engaging in conversation out of the blue, try to have you try on one of their necklaces, and during this time they’ll use distraction methods to try and take another necklace off you,” says Staff Sgt. Geoff Gawlinski of the Calgary Police Service. “It appears they feel the most comfort targeting necklaces.”

In some instances, police say perpetrators tell a victim they are in need of money and try to sell them jewelry for a cheap price. If the victims refuse, suspects have used physical force or threats in order to rob the victims.

Police say these types of jewelry thefts already account for 17 incidents in 2014 alone. Ten of them occurred since March 7.

The thefts have occurred in several communities throughout the city, and some of the victims targeted have been elderly people, for whom English is not their first language. Police say the thefts appear to be cyclical; several offences are reported over a relatively short time frame and are followed by little or no activity.

As a result of their investigation, police say they are now looking for numerous suspects. Descriptions of suspects include both men and women, between 18 and 60 years old, and of Middle Eastern descent. Police say some victims describe the suspects as having eastern European accents.

Police are advising Calgarians not to buy jewelry from people on the street and to be aware of people trying to touch them unnecessarily while trying to sell them jewelry.

Anyone with information about these thefts or the identities of the suspects is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.