Police in Glengarry, Quebec warning of similar 'swarming' scams

Police detachments in both Glengarry and western Quebec have reported similar "swarming" incidents in retail stores, similar to the one at Home Hardware in Vankleek Hill on October 4.

Ontario Provincial Police in Alexandria sent a press release to media on Friday, October 14 stating it has received two reports of suspected scams over the past few days.

"The incident consists of a female entering a local store and speaking with the employee at the cash register," reads the report. "After a short time, three to four more people come into the store and start asking the employee questions about the merchandise that is for sale.

"When the employee is distracted a member of the group goes behind the counter or into a storage area looking for cash or valuables. If more than one person starts to engage in questions, advise them to speak one at a time and be firm as to where they are allowed to go in the store."

Const. Peter Robertson said there is no specific description of the suspects, though he underlined the importance of local merchants being aware of any such activity in their stores. He asked residents and merchants to be vigilant, to not be distracted, and to take note of the description of the criminals and what type of vehicle they are using and call your local police detachment. 
Meanwhile, in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region east of the border, Quebec provincial police are also warning merchants of a group of thieves who have been making the rounds in local stores.

The Sûreté du Québec says several merchants have reported that seven men and women work in tandem to conduct the crime. A few of them will engage the cashier in conversation while the others make their way to the back office in order to take money and other valuables.

Police say they wear ample layers of clothing permitting them to hide goods underneath the garments. According to witnesses, the group of thieves is of Arabic descent and the women wear veils.

Both reports have similarities to the incident in Vankleek Hill, where according to the Hawkesbury OPP, three men and three women entered a store and caused a diversion with their presence.

Hawkesbury OPP Const. Pierre Dubois said the group's distraction allowed one or more individuals to gain access to an office in the store, where an undisclosed amount of money was stolen.

The group left in an old, burgundy, square GMC construction-style van, with Quebec plates. Officers were called to respond but did not arrive in time to catch the suspects, Dubois added. Patrol units were dispatched in the local area to search for the vehicle, also to no avail. The vehicle's license plate number is unknown.

The report notes the suspects are of Asian or Arabic descent and were speaking to one another in a foreign language. All appeared to be in their 20s, with most about 5'5" or 5'6" in height.

Dubois noted there was no violence and that nobody was injured in the incident. When asked, he said this was a very rare type of crime for the local area.

"I've heard of people swarming businesses in large groups, but not here in this area," he said. "It's the first time I hear of such a way of doing things."