Toronto police are warning residents of a certain kind of crime that’s on the rise in the city: distraction theft.

“While distraction thefts are troubling on their own, what is even more troubling is the increasing level of violence suspects are using against their victims,” said Chief Superintendent Mandeep Mann of Field Services at a news conference on Wednesday.

In 2025, he said despite other kinds of crime trending downward — firearm activity was down by 40 per cent, homicides were down by 56 per cent and auto thefts by 33 per cent — there has been year over year increase for theft.

“With distraction thefts in particular, there have been 374 reported incidents so far this year compared to just 28 all of last year. And we know these crimes are often underreported,” he said.

Mann sai

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