Two men face dozens of charges in distraction thefts across GTA and beyond

A Burlington man already charged with fraud is facing a slew of new charges for a series of distraction thefts.

Toronto Police say the thefts happened in Toronto, Halton, Guelph, Niagara, Peel, Durham and Barrie between March and June 2020.

According to police, two men would approach other drivers complaining about car trouble.

One of the men would distract the driver while the other would steal personal items.

The stolen debit and credit cards were used to buy items and withdraw money.

Constantin Liteanu, 46, of Burlington, is charged with:

• three counts of theft of a credit card
• 23 counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Four counts of unauthorized use of credit card data
• 23 counts of fraud under $5,000
• 13 counts of possess proceeds of crime under $5,000
• 11 counts of theft under $5,000
• 12 counts of possess/use credit card obtained by crime

Liteanu was arrested on June 12 for identity thefts in Burlington and Oakville.

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Laurentiu Avram, 35, of Vaughan, was arrested by Montreal Police in Laval, Quebec.

He appears to be the same man wanted in the incidents in Burlington and Oakville.

Avram is charged with:

• three counts of theft of a credit card
• 23 counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Four counts of unauthorized use of credit card data
• 23 counts of fraud under $5,000
• 13 counts of possess proceeds of crime under $5,000
• 11 counts of theft under $5,000
• 12 counts of possess/use credit card obtained by crime