On-street jewelry thefts reported in Oakville and Burlington

Police say another person has come forward after being targeted by jewelry thieves in Halton.

Halton Regional Police say an elderly woman was walking in the Lakeshore Road and Nelson Street area in Oakville around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when another woman approached her and showed her fake gold jewelry, including a large gold ring, bracelet and chain.

Police say the second woman then tried to hug the victim and placed the chain around her neck and walked away.

A short time later, the victim realized her own necklace had been stolen.

The culprit is described as a woman between ages 20 and 30 with a heavy build.

Police say this is the third distraction-style theft they’ve investigated in the past few weeks.

A similar incident reportedly took place in a Food Basics in Georgetown last Saturday. In both cases, victims had their own jewelry stolen by a stranger attempting to give them fake gold jewelry.

On Oct. 19 in Burlington, a man who had just parked his car at the Navy Club on Industrial Street was reportedly approached by two suspects seated in a vehicle. Police say a person in the vehicle’s passenger seat expressed interest in the man’s gold ring and pulled it off his finger. During a brief struggle, the suspect also pulled a gold chain off of his neck.

“In some sort of unwanted exchange, the suspects then handed the male two fake gold pieces of jewelry and fled the scene. The value of the stolen jewelry is estimated to be approximately $2,500,” police said.

Police say the man was not injured during the robbery.

The culprits in the three incidents are not believed to be the same people.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2216.