Pictures Released of Grocery Thefts

Distraction thefts happened at Grimsby grocery stores

More pictures have been released by Niagara regional police concerning distraction thefts at two Grimsby grocery stores.

One happened December 14th, when a woman asked another woman a question, who was loading groceries into her car at the Sobey's.

Police say when the second woman looked back at her cart, her purse was gone, and police eventually found her credit cards to be used.

Two days later, police say a man took a woman's purse from her cart while she was browsing at Food Basics, and used her credit cards.

Police believe these two thefts are related, and released a picture of the Food Basics thief.

Police have now determined two suspects enter a store together, then leave after picking a potential victim.

Original Story:

Niagara police need your help to solve what they're calling distraction thefts at two Grimsby grocery stores.

They tell us the first happened December 14th, when a woman loading her car at the Sobey's parking lot was approached by another woman, who asked her a question.

When the victim looked back at her cart, her wallet was gone.  Police say two suspects attempted to use her credit cards.

Police say the woman suspect is described as Indigenous, 35-45 years old, with a heavy build.  She was wearing thick rimmed black glasses, and carrying a large black purse.  Police add she was wearing a black toque with "MK" written all around it with a pompom on top.   She also had on a navy blue puffy winter jacket, black track pants with a thick white stripe down both sides, and black running shoes with red laces.   

The man police say is a suspect is Indigenous, about 35-45 years old, stands about 5'6, and has a short beard and mustache, dark in colour.  He also has a muscular build.  Police add he was wearing black running shoes, blue jeans faded on the front, black toque, and navy blue Tommy Hilfiger jacket with a white pattern on it.

Then, two days later, a woman was shopping at Food Basics, when police say a man stole a woman's purse from her shopping cart while she was looking at a shelf, and used her credit cards to take $2,000. 

They say he is white, 55-70 years old, stands about 5'9, with a medium build, short grey hair and has distinctive large dark eyebrows.   He was wearing a black jacket, black pants, black baseball cap, and black and white running shoes.

Police believe these two thefts are related.