Toronto

Woman charged after allegedly stealing handbags, purses from seniors in North York

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Ashante Whittaker, 29, was arrested and charged in a string of alleged handbag thefts. (Toronto Police Service.)

A woman has been arrested and charged after allegedly stealing purses and handbags from seniors in North York.

Toronto police say between Sept. 1 and Oct. 6, the accused attended retail stores near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West.

She allegedly targeted senior citizens who placed their purses and handbags in their shopping carts, waiting for them to lose focus on their items before stealing them and fleeing the store.

On Tuesday, 29-year-old Ashante Whittaker of Toronto was arrested and charged with two counts each of unauthorized use of a credit card and fraud under, and four counts of theft under $5,000. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Police believe their may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime stoppers anonymously.