A 65-year-old Toronto man has been charged after a woman’s tires were slashed and she was robbed outside of an Ajax grocery store in what police are calling a distraction theft.
Durham Regional Police said a witness reported seeing a man slash the tires of an SUV in the parking lot of a No Frills grocery store at Street and Monarch Avenue just before 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The woman had reportedly gone grocery shopping and taken money out at a nearby bank before she left in her vehicle without realizing she had a flat tire.
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The woman then returned to the store parking lot where police said a man had asked her if she needed help.
Police said the woman declined assistance and the man left in a nearby vehicle, which is when she noticed money and personal belongings were missing from her passenger seat.
Investigators were able to locate a suspect through the use of surveillance video that captured his licence plate number and he was arrested on Friday.
READ MORE: Toronto police seek 3 suspects after distraction theft of ‘cursed’ elderly woman
Luis Riquelme has been charged with one count of mischief under $5,000, theft under $5,000 and obstructing police. He was released on a promise to appear at a later date and police said they have not located his alleged accomplice.
Anyone with new information about these incidents is asked to contact Cst. O’Connor of West Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2087.
Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at http://www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.