York police are warning the public following a distraction-style break and enter at a Markham home involving a man and young boy.
On Wednesday, December 13 at around 12 p.m., a boy of 10 to 12 years of age came to the front door of a house near Rodick Road and 16th Avenue. When the occupant answered, the child said he had kicked a ball over the fence and needed help accessing the backyard to retrieve it. The complainant escorted him to the yard to look for a ball but none was found and the child left. As the complainant returned to the front of the house, an unknown adult male was seeing leaving the residence.
The police investigation revealed that as the complainant brought the child to the backyard, an adult male emerged from a hiding spot and snuck into the residence through the unlocked front door. The suspect went through some rooms, stole cash from a purse and then exited the front door. It is believed the suspect arrived in the neighbourhood in a black 2020 Honda Civic with a faded licence plate.
Police obtained a photo of the suspect from security footage and are releasing it to the public. He is described as a white male in his 30s, 5’6” with scruffy facial hair. He was wearing a black hoodie, black ball cap and black track pants with a stripe down the side.
Suspect 2 is also a white male, aged 10 to 12 years, 4’8” and of medium build. He was wearing a black jacket and black pants with a white stripe on the side, and spoke English with an accent.
Police say they received another report of a similar situation that occurred on December 6, at around 4:25 p.m., in the area of McCowan Road and Raymerville Drive. In that case, a boy and a girl told the occupant of a house that they lost a ball in the backyard. The complainant felt it was suspicious and refused to cooperate. The children left and no ball was found. Although no theft occurred, police are trying to determine if there is a link between the incidents.
The investigation is ongoing.
Any witnesses or anyone with video recordings from home security systems or dashcam devices are asked to contact police as soon as possible.
Information can be provided to the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau by calling 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541. Alternatively, information may also be given anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or going online at www.1800222tips.com.
