Police seek 3 suspects wanted in thefts at Grimsby grocery stores

Police are looking for three people wanted in connection with two “distraction thefts” at grocery stores in Grimsby last month.

Officers say the first incident occurred on Dec. 14 when a male and female suspect followed a woman into a Sobeys parking lot.

While she was loading her groceries into her car, the female suspect approached her and asked what police are calling a “distraction question.”

Police say the woman noticed her wallet was stolen when she looked back at her cart.

A short while later, several attempts had been made to withdraw cash and make purchases using her stolen credit cards.

Investigators describe the female suspect as a 35 to 45-year-old Indigenous woman with a heavy build. She had thick-rimmed black glasses and was carrying a large black purse.

She was also wearing a black toque with “MK” written repeatedly on it and a pompom on top. She had on a navy blue puffer jacket, black track pants with a thick white stripe down both sides and black running shoes with red laces.

The male suspect is described as a 35 to 45-year-old Indigenous man, standing at five-foot-six with a muscular build, short beard and mustache, which were both dark in colour.

He was last seen wearing black running shoes, blue jeans that were faded on the front, a black toque and a navy blue Tommy Hilfiger jacket with a white pattern on it.

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Niagara police say a similar incident occurred at a Food Basics in Grimsby two days later.

This time, a different male suspect approached a female shopper who was grabbing an item off a shelf.

While the woman was distracted, officers say the male suspect allegedly stole her purse.

Investigators say her stolen credit cards were used to make several withdrawals and purchases totaling $2,000.

Police believe the two cases share a common connection.

The suspect in the second incident is described as a 55 to 70-year-old white man, standing at five-foot-nine with a medium build and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a black coat, a black baseball cap, black pants and black and white running shoes.

Anyone with information related to either of these incidents is asked to contact Niagara police at 905-688-4111.