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Peel police are investigating the July 28 theft of about 110 grams of gold jewelry, valued at roughly $20,000, from a 78-year-old Brampton woman during her evening walk. The family says the jewelry was made by her late husband and holds deep emotional value.
Peel police are investigating after a 78-year-old Brampton woman was allegedly robbed of $20,000 worth of jewelry during her evening walk earlier this year. The theft happened just before 6 p.m. on July 28 on a residential street near Chinguacousy Road and Bovaird Drive West in Brampton.
Son Describes Emotional Value of Stolen Jewelry
The woman's son, Raghavendra Kumar, said thieves stole about 110 grams of gold jewelry worth roughly $20,000 in raw metal value. Kumar said the jewelry carried far more than monetary value for his mother. His father, a goldsmith, made the pieces and gifted them when the couple married in 1971. My father passed away around 2008, Kumar said.
The jewelry was gifted by my father when they got married in 1971. Surveillance videos provided to media outlets appear to show an elderly woman walking on a sidewalk when an SUV stops beside her. Kumar said his mother, who does not speak English well, initially believed the woman who approached her was a neighbor. In an attempt to gain trust, he said the woman bent down and touched his mother's feet before hugging her.
For about 10 seconds, she was completely believing and trusting of that female, Kumar said. He said the woman then placed a fake piece of jewelry around his mother's neck while removing her real gold necklace. The suspects also allegedly took her gold bangles before leaving in the SUV. Kumar said when his mother realized what had happened, she was shivering and she could not walk.
Victim Shocked and Unable to Speak After Theft
He said his mother eventually made it home but could not speak for a span of 30 minutes. When she rang the bell, I was tensed because she's already a heart patient, Kumar said. I was more worried about her health. I was least worried about the jewelry at that moment.
Kumar collected CCTV footage from several homes in the neighborhood and provided it to Peel police and CP24. Police have identified a white Chevrolet Equinox as a vehicle of interest. Police have told CP24 that the woman depicted in the video shared by Kumar is considered a person of interest in the ongoing investigation. Peel Regional Police said in a statement that they are currently investigating the July 28 incident and have reviewed the CCTV footage provided by Mr. Kumar.
Police have not provided a description of the suspect or suspects they are looking for at this time. Kumar said he has followed up with police every few weeks but has not received a significant update. He added that his mother has stopped taking her usual walks. She looks forward to summers for evening walks, he said, describing how his mother would walk around the crescent and frequently chat with neighbors.
Police Investigation Continues with Limited Updates
She is completely low. She has stopped going for walks outside, Kumar said. He said she now walks only in the backyard. Kumar first reached out after seeing a recent story about a similar jewelry theft under investigation by Toronto police.
In that June 26 incident, police allege a woman approached a victim near Ellesmere Road and Midland Avenue and asked for directions. A man then allegedly drove up and also asked for directions. Police say the woman got out, also placed a fake gold chain around the victim's neck and allegedly removed the victim's personal chain.
Peel police note that they are aware of the separate Toronto jewelry theft in June involving a fake gold chain and a similar looking vehicle but say there is currently no evidence to confirm the two are indeed related. The incident is just the latest in a series of distraction-style thefts that have made headlines across the Greater Toronto Area this year.
For Kumar, the incident has left his family trying to make sense of what happened in a neighborhood they had always considered safe. Everyone in the family was shocked because we never expected that can happen in our neighborhood for an elderly person, he said. Peel police are asking anyone with information about the Brampton incident to contact 22 Division CIB investigators at 905-453-2121 x2233.
CTVToronto
CTVNews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Brampton Jewelry Theft Distraction Theft Peel Police Investigation 78-Year-Old Woman Robbed Chevrolet Equinox Vehicle Of Interest
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