STRATEGIC PARTNERS
October 17, 2002
TORONTO -- Police are seeking five thieves who used ketchup to rob a Toronto man of about $700,000 (about $445,000 U.S.), according to a report in the National Post.
Five suspects -- four men and a woman -- were filmed by surveillance cameras at a TB Bank branch in the Sept. 13 incident.
One of the suspects surreptitiously squirted ketchup on the back of the unidentified 38-year-old victim's shirt, then lured the man outside by pretending to offer to help him wipe off the offending splatter.
The victim was asked to take his shirt off, giving the other four suspects the opportunity to seize a deposit bag containing a check for US$20,000 and other checks amounting to $680,000 in Canadian funds from him.
When the victim resisted, he was kicked and knocked to the ground and the suspects fled with the bag.
"It was a well-organized plan," said Detective Constable Travis Clark at an Oct. 16 press conference held to enlist the public's help in catching the thieves. "Everyone had their own specific role."
Clark said surveillance footage placed the suspects at the same scene on previous occasions. Police believe the group was on the lookout for someone who appeared to be carrying a large amount of money.
"I think they just hit the jackpot," Clark said.
