By Staff
February 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Having your wallet stolen is bad enough – for a senior it is devastating.
During the past six month predators were stalking older people, usually women, and stealing their purses.
The Halton Regional Police have arrested and laid charges against one male and two females in relation to multiple identity fraud incidents which occurred during January and February of this year.
A total of six purse thefts occurred in the City of Burlington and Town of Oakville from grocery stores targeting older adult females. The victim’s financial cards were used following the thefts to purchase items from retail stores as well as gift cards from local merchants. The estimated total loss is over $2,500.
Investigation by the Burlington and Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau has led to the charges against the following individuals;
Myriam Celis MUNOZ (female, 68 years old)
• Theft Under $5,000, two counts
• Fraud Under $5,000, five counts
• Personation with Intent, four counts
• Fraudulent Use of a credit card, four counts
• Possession of Property Obtained by crime, three counts
Luz Dary GARCIA CELIS (female, 51 years old)
• Theft Under $5,000, two counts
• Fraud Under $5,000, six counts
• Personation with Intent, five counts
• Fraudulent Use of a credit card, five counts
• Possession of Property Obtained by crime, four counts
Carlos Andres GUITERREZ BERNAL (male, 22 years old)
• One charge of: Fraud Under $5,000.
All three accused were held for a bail hearing on the 24th of February 2020.
Shoppers are reminded to pay close attention to their surroundings and keep a close eye on their valuables. Purses should be kept on your person at all times. Do not leave items such as purses and cell phones unattended in grocery carts while shopping.
Any fraudulent activity on your financial cards should be reported immediately to your bank and to police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Derek Gray of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Older Adult Abuse Investigator at 905-825-4747 ext. 2344.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
Years ago I was sitting at a food court in the PATH system of downtown Toronto. A few tables over were two young women sitting across from each other, their purses hung on the backs of the chairs. Suddenly a man from another table got up, ran over and shouted ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” to a man who was sitting opposite one of the ladies, their backs to each other, and had his hand opening her purse and removing her wallet. All sorts of chaos ensued, but the point is that people around the vicinity, in such a public place, should keep an eye on things and step up if they see something. In this photo above, the man seems strangely close to the woman’s purse and cart, looking right into it, and I would hope that bystanders could start watching out for this – knowing it is common.