The Thunder Bay Police Service is looking for a female break and enter suspect who may be targeting senior citizens.
Police were notified about an incident involving a female suspect entering an elderly woman’s home in the area of Hudson Avenue just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. The resident was in the washroom at the time the suspect entered.
When the elderly woman confronted the accused, the suspicious woman claimed to be with an organization helping people obtain government rent assistance.
After a brief conversation the suspicious woman requested banking information from the victim. This request was refused.
The victim later learned, after the suspicious woman had left, that some of her property was missing.
An investigation by police revealed the suspect may have visited other homes in the area.
The suspect is described as an Indigenous female standing about 5’5” tall with a slender build. She is believed to be around the ages of 20-to-25 years and has black shoulder-length hair. She wore a black sweater with white writing down the left sleeve at the time of this incident.
It is unknown at this time if the victims were targeted because they were senior citizens, but police are asking residents to be extra vigilant regarding these types of criminal activities.
If you have any information that could assist investigators, please contact police at 684-1200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.p3tips.com.
If you have vulnerable family members or friends, please have a conversation about being on guard against potential frauds. More information about known frauds, and tips to avoid being victimized, can be found online via the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
Police also encourage the public to keep their doors locked at all times.