A married couple has pleaded guilty to a series of distraction thefts targeting jewelry stores across British Columbia and Alberta, following a multi-jurisdiction investigation.
Investigation Details
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) announced that Adam and Maria Caldarar entered guilty pleas to charges of theft over $5,000 and theft under $5,000. The charges are linked to incidents in Vancouver, West Vancouver, and North Vancouver.
The investigation began in December 2025 when the VPD's retail crime task force identified a pattern of sophisticated distraction thefts throughout the city. Police linked 12 incidents between August 2025 and February 2026 to the suspects.
Scope of Crimes
These incidents spanned communities from West Vancouver to Revelstoke, with an additional offence in Calgary. In total, more than $90,000 worth of jewelry was stolen. The suspects were identified and later located in Chilliwack, where they were arrested in early March.
Police forces in Kamloops, Kelowna, Salmon Arm, Hope, and Revelstoke also participated in the investigation, and additional charges may be recommended in those jurisdictions.
The Vancouver Police Department expressed gratitude to the jewelry retail community and all partnering police agencies for their cooperation and support in ending what they described as a province-wide crime spree. The couple remains in custody pending further proceedings.
