Kingston police are warning residents about a growing concern they are calling “jewellery swap” thefts, following several similar reports in Kingston, Ont., that appear to involve distraction-based tactics targeting personal valuables.

In one reported incident on June 4 near Renda Street and Henderson Boulevard, a resident was gardening in their front yard when three individuals in a white vehicle approached and asked for directions. After a brief interaction, one suspect placed a gold chain around the victim’s neck while describing it as a cultural gesture of thanks. The victim was also handed additional jewellery before the group left the area.

Police say the situation escalated only after the suspects had driven away, when the resident realized that two gold necklaces they had been wearing were missing. Investigators believe the exchange and gifting of jewellery was used as a distraction to facilitate the theft.

Kingston Police state that this incident signifies a wider trend and a resurgence of this kind of theft, which also took place multiple times in 2024 and 2025, where suspects approach individuals in public or residential spaces, initiate friendly conversation, and use unsolicited gifts or physical contact involving jewellery to divert attention long enough to remove valuables.

Police are advising residents not to accept jewellery or gifts from strangers, to avoid allowing unknown individuals to come into close physical contact, and to remain cautious when approached in pairs or groups. They are also urging anyone who experiences or witnesses similar behaviour to report it immediately.