Retirement home jewelry heist leads to charges for fake nurse from Brampton

Staff at an Ontario nursing home foiled a fake nurse stealing jewelry from residents leading to charges for a Brampton man, police say.

The daylight burglary happened on July 26 around 12 p.m. when a man entered a retirement home in Barrie while residents were at lunch, the Barrie Police Service said in a release.

The thief then made his way into units and stole an undisclosed quantity of jewellery from the residents.

Police say retirement home staff saw the man exiting a unit and confronted the individual who said he was from an “outside nursing agency.”

But the staffers didn’t buy the story and held the man until officers could arrive on scene, police say.

Police say a 25-year-old man from Brampton was arrested but a suspect in a black vehicle parked at the front of the building fled the scene. The identity of the driver and licence plate remains unknown, police said.

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The Barrie Police Service says a 25-year-old male from Brampton has been charged with break-and-enter, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and fail to comply with an undertaking.

He was held for a bail hearing on July 27 and was released with a court appearance on Aug. 19.

The attempted theft has police reminding residents of retirement homes and apartment buildings to always lock your door when leaving your units and to call 911 to report anyone who “does not appear as if they belong or is acting in a suspicious manner.”

Anonymous tips may also be provided to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.