Two Ontario residents are facing charges after a string of jewelry thefts targeting older adults in Winnipeg and Selkirk on July 1.
Police say suspects approached victims — including a woman in her 60s on Berrydale Avenue, a woman outside an assisted living complex in Selkirk, and a woman in her 80s in a Kenaston Boulevard parking lot — using distraction tactics to swap genuine gold jewelry for imitation pieces. In one case, a suspect posed as a new neighbour wanting to “bless” the victim before hugging her and making off with her necklace.
Officers, believing the same suspects were behind all three incidents, tracked the suspect vehicle to a residence in the 200 block of Ken Oblik Drive in Prairie Pointe. A search warrant turned up cash, imitation jewelry and authentic jewelry, some of which has been returned to victims.
Rodica Miclescu, 26, and Constantin Miclescu, 27, both of Scarborough, Ont., are each charged with three counts of robbery, three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, and possession-of-proceeds charges. Both remain in custody.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Winnipeg police at (204) 986-6219, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (204) 786-TIPS.
