RENFREW COUNTY (Renfrew) — Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has arrested an individual following an investigation into allegations of a distracted theft and frauds.
On December 9, 2019, the Renfrew OPP Detachment responded to a theft and fraud complaint in the Town of Renfrew. The victim had been distracted by a suspect while shopping at a local business. The victim later determined that their bank card had been stolen while being distracted and that access was gained to their bank accounts. The investigation has determined that the suspect used the victim’s bank cards at various businesses to obtain funds.
As a result of the investigation Vasile Stan, 41 years old, of Romania, has been charged with:
- Possession of a credit card contrary to section 342(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada (14 counts);
- Use of credit card contrary to section 342(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada (13 counts);
- Theft of credit card contrary to section 342(1)(a) of the criminal code of Canada; and
- Fraud Under $5000 contrary to section 380(1) (b) of the Criminal Code of Canada (13 counts).
The OPP would like to remind the public to beware of distracted theft, as thieves target individuals in grocery stores, shopping establishments and at Automated Teller Machines (ATM). Below are suggested tips:
- Never leave your personal belongings unattended;
- Keep your wallet and valuables secure;
- Do not allow yourself to be distracted by individuals and notify staff of suspicion behaviours at check outs; and
- Protect your banking Personal Identification Number (PIN) while entering information into a banking device.
Anyone with information should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
