Toronto Police say they are looking for a small, frail, elderly woman after an expensive designer purse with a large amount of cash in it was stolen from the lobby of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The theft occurred last month on Sunday, May 17 at around 3:50 p.m.
An 18-year-old woman was sitting in a chair in the gallery’s main lobby and chatting with a woman to her right.
Seeing the young woman distracted, the elderly woman sitting on her left reached over, took the purse and put it beside her chair, police told CP24.com. She looked around to check whether anyone had seen her, checked that the woman was still distracted, and then picked up the purse from beside her chair and walked out, police said.
When she realized her purse was gone, the teen panicked and called security.
Speaking with CP24.com, police said it does not appear that the purse was taken accidentally.
“It’s very deliberate,” Det. Chris Hominuk said.
Hominuk said it’s not clear whether the other lady the teen was speaking with was involved. However he said the victim did not know the suspect and it does not appear the girl was targeted.
“It appears to be a crime of opportunity,” Hominuk said. “It was an expensive Louis Vuitton purse.”
He said the purse and the cash inside are valued at more than $5,000.
Police say they are now looking for a suspect described as an Asian woman, approximately 75 years old and standing about five-foot-two. She has a thin, frail build with greyish, white, shoulder-length hair. She walks slowly with a limp and was last seen wearing a dark jacket, pink flowery blouse and carrying a blue shopping bag.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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