Peel police warn of rise in distraction thefts after $19,000 jewelry loss
Distraction thefts in Peel are rising after a Brampton woman lost $19,000 in jewelry Police urge caution and report suspicious encounters to stay protected
Peel Regional Police say distraction thefts are increasing in the region after a woman was robbed of about $19,000 in jewelry in Brampton earlier this summer.
According to police, the incident happened on July 28 near Chinguacousy Road and Sandalwood Parkway West. Two women in a white SUV approached the victim, and one of them hugged and touched her feet before quietly replacing her gold necklace with a metal one and taking three gold bangles.
Police said there is still no suspect description and the case remains under investigation. Officers reported 266 distractiontheft complaints in Peel so far this year, up from 222 in 2025 and 25 in 2024.
Investigators are also looking into possible links between Peel cases and similar reports elsewhere in Ontario, and police are urging residents to keep their distance if an interaction feels unusual and to protect their belongings.