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In the case of smell or sell, police need your help

Whether they’re dubbed the Smelly Bandits or the Dior Duo, Barrie police hope perfume thieves can be sniffed out

Whether they’re dubbed the Smelly Bandits or the Dior Duo, Barrie police hope that the most recent in a string of perfume thefts will finally have the culprits sniffed out.

The video surveillance from a June 10 theft at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 420 Essa Rd., has provided police with up-close images of the thieves who attempted to use a distraction method to get the items out of the store.

While one man spoke to an employee to keep her busy, the other male headed toward the fragrance wall and filled a cooler bag with expensive perfumes before exiting the store.

While it may seem funny to some that grown men are stealing perfume, Barrie police Const. Nicole Rodgers believes the items are being taken in attempt to resell and make thousands of dollars.

“I’m sure it does seem odd to many that a couple of grown men are stealing Chanel, but in a situation like this, it is likely they are looking to move them online or they may even own a shop and will attempt to sell the stolen goods there,” Rodgers said.

“We would ask everyone who may notice items that were stolen to be wary and let us know if somewhere you see them has the exact same amount as those taken," she added. 

A list of the stolen items was provided by police and are:

Dior Homme Sauvage 60 ml x 6

Dior Homme 50 ml x 3

Dior Homme 100 ml x 2

Farenheit 50 ml x 4

Farenheit 100 ml x 2

Fahrenheit 200 ml x 2

The total is just under $2,000.

The theft is believed to be linked to another incident from July 9 at the Shoppers at 380 Mapleview Dr., where 45 bottles of Chanel perfume were stolen in a similar manner, which totalled $4,735.

“Combined these two thefts have come close to $7,000 and at least one of suspects seems to have been involved in another theft at a Shoppers in Barrie back on May 24,” Rodgers said.

“We’re also letting the public know that these two individuals may be linked to the thefts in other jurisdictions of the same nature and we are working closely with those police departments with any updates and tips," she added. 

In the other thefts it is possible that the thieves made their escape in a grey Toyota Echo with Quebec licence plate FHR3582, though the public should be reminded that it is possible the plate was stolen, too, as a way to cover up the identity of the thieves.

Rodgers clarifies that there were arrests made on July 2 when cologne was stolen by a duo at a Cundles Road Shoppers when two men used the same technique of distraction to make their getaway. Two suspects were caught less than 30 minutes later down the street. In that case, it was a 21-year-old and 25-year-old as opposed to the approximate 35 to 40 years old of the two suspects being sought now.

“The guys we caught weren’t as bright or as well-prepared as the other two, but we are confident that with the new visuals we have in the latest released information we will make an arrest soon,” said Rodgers.

Rodgers also shed some light on thefts that are reported that may make the public wonder why one would even attempt it. In this case someone could stand to gain thousands of dollars on the resale market, in the cases where large amounts of baby formula have been stolen it sometimes left the public wondering why a large amount would be needed.

“In the situation of baby formula, for example, some might say when they hear of huge amounts of formula stolen that it just doesn’t add up, but it’s usually not for feeding kids,” said Rodgers. “When we hear of baby formula being stolen, we usually tend to think of drug reasons.

"Those involved in selling drugs will use baby formula to cut the drugs so as to make it go a lot further, therefore selling more," she said. "Some crimes have more layers to them than what you first think, and in the case of the perfume, it is most likely resale and not for smelling good.”

Any information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at P3 Tips.