Squirting mustard, planted bank notes -- the scenarios sound like antics out of a Three Stooges movie, but Toronto police say the three men who have been arrested are behind a string of very real distraction thefts around town.
The robberies took place at financial institutions over the past four months, police said.
According to police, the men followed people who had withdrawn money from banks. One of the men would spray mustard on the victim. A second man would then point out the mustard, while a third would pretend to help the person.
The men would use the rouse to get close to the person in order to remove their property and then take off.
In other cases, police said the suspects would distract the victims by throwing five-dollar bills on the ground, stealing money from them when they tried to collect the bills.
Police said the latest robbery took place at a bank in the Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East area on May 20, a day after police in Toronto, York and Peel identified three suspects.
Police said the suspects followed an older man from the bank, sprayed his jacket with mustard and then took a large sum of money while pretending to help him.
In a news release issued Friday, police said three suspects have been arrested in connection with the thefts.
Juan Jamie Loaiza Eguren, 67; Carlos Embry Ibarra, 64; and Angel Moforte Mardones, 69 have each been charged with 10 counts of robbery, four counts of mischief and theft.
All the men are from Chile.
All three men made an appearance in court on May 21.
Police believe there may be more victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4204 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
