‘Observant citizen’ foils distraction theft attempt targeting Vaughan senior

Left: Florian MUSATA, Middle: Iosif ALEXANDRU, Right: Ovidiu ALEXANDRU all charged by York regional police (YRP photos).

Three people have been charged in connection with an “attempted jewelry distraction theft” in Vaughan earlier this month.

In a news release, York Regional Police say the incident happened on May 18 at around 3 p.m. in the Bathurst Glen Drive and Schuster Lane area after they received reports of a “suspicious person.”

Investigators say three men who were in a white Nissan Rogue attempted a jewelry distraction theft on an elderly resident before an “observant citizen” noticed the suspicious activity and contacted police.

Police say the theft was interrupted and all three suspects were arrested.

Investigators also say they recovered a quantity of counterfeit jewelry.

Police noted this marks the second time since November 2025 that an observant Vaughan resident has alerted officers to elderly neighbours being targeted in a distraction theft investigation that later resulted in arrests.

As a result of the investigation, 33-year-old Ovidiu Alexandru, of Markham, 31-year-old Iosif Alexandru, of Pickering, and 34-year-old Florian Musata, of Toronto, have each been charged with attempted theft and possession of property obtained by crime.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with more information to contact police.