Calgary police have laid multiple charges against members of the same family in connection with a series of distraction thefts at CF Market Mall in the city's northwest. The incident occurred on June 17, when officers responded to a jewellery store after an employee reported a theft.
Family members used as distraction
According to police, six family members entered the store together. While adult members engaged staff in conversation, a 16-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy took several pieces of jewellery and left the store. The remaining family members exited shortly after, and staff discovered jewellery worth $4,000 was missing and called police.
Police located two youths believed to have taken the jewellery, along with one adult member, still inside the mall. Several other suspects were found in a truck in the mall's parking lot. The truck was discovered to be stolen, and a search of the vehicle uncovered additional items stolen from other stores.
Charges laid against four family members
Through the investigation, a 16-year-old female was charged with theft under $5,000 and failure to comply with an undertaking. A 25-year-old woman, a 34-year-old woman, and a 17-year-old male were each charged with three counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000. Two children, aged eight and nine, were released to their father, who was not charged. The names of the family members were not released due to the ages of the children and provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
Police warn of increasing distraction thefts
District 7 Insp. Colleen Bowers noted that distraction thefts are becoming increasingly common and urged Calgarians to remain vigilant, whether walking down the street or working in a store. “This case is particularly disturbing because children were being used to commit those thefts,” Bowers said. Anyone with information about this incident can contact police at 403-266-1234 or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers.
