Project Heirloom
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Hamilton Police Service is advising the community of the results of Project Heirloom, a targeted investigative initiative launched to address a significant rise in distraction-style thefts targeting senior citizens throughout the City of Hamilton.
In 2025, investigators noted a stark and concerning increase in these offences. By November 2025, Hamilton had recorded 96 distraction theft occurrences, exceeding the total combined number of such incidents from 2021 through 2024. These crimes involved suspects deliberately distracting elderly victims in retail stores, parking lots, and public spaces in order to steal wallets, jewelry, and banking information.
Project Heirloom was created to identify those responsible, disrupt organized criminal activity, and prevent further victimization of vulnerable seniors. Over the course of the project’s two-month lifespan, investigators were able to solve 10 occurrences, identify 11 accused persons, and lay a total of 83 criminal charges.
Early in the investigation, detectives identified consistent patterns among the suspects. Many were based in the Scarborough area, relied on short-term rental accommodations, and used rental vehicles that were frequently changed, making tracking difficult. Investigators also learned the suspects would travel to Hamilton for single-day theft sprees and then leave the city for weeks at a time to commit similar offences elsewhere in Southern Ontario. Despite these challenges, investigators successfully identified two residences connected to the criminal network and executed search warrants, uncovering evidence of coordinated distraction-theft cells operating across multiple jurisdictions.
On November 8, 2025, three suspects targeted elderly victims at Food Basics on Mohawk Road East and later at Mission Thrift Store on Upper Gage Avenue, stealing wallets and PIN information before withdrawing thousands of dollars from the victims’ bank accounts. Two of the suspects were identified and are currently wanted.
Ana Marie PETRESCU (1979-07-12)
- Identity Theft – CC 402.2(1) x 4
- Trafficking in Credit Card Data – CC 342(3) x 4
- Use of Stolen Credit Card – CC 342(1)(ci) x 4
- Theft of Credit Card – CC 342(1)(a) x 1
- Theft Under $5,000 – CC 334(b) x 7
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – CC 354(1) x 1
Florian STOIAN (1985-04-26)
- Identity Theft – CC 402.2(1) x 4
- Trafficking in Credit Card Data – CC 342(3) x 4
- Use of Stolen Credit Card – CC 342(1)(ci) x 4
- Theft of Credit Card – CC 342(1)(a) x 1
- Theft Under $5,000 – CC 334(b) x 7
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – CC 354(1) x 1
Both accused are wanted by Toronto and Halton Police Services and have been linked to similar offences across Canada.
On November 18, 2025, a concerned citizen disrupted a distraction theft in progress at a Food Basics on Barton Street East. The suspects attempted additional thefts at two other grocery stores before fleeing Hamilton. Investigators identified the suspects as follows. Both were arrested following a search warrant in Scarborough and later released on conditions, which they are accused of breaching. Florin and Elvira ZMARANDACHE are believed to have fled Canada after becoming wanted by the Hamilton Police Service, and warrants remain outstanding for their arrest
Florin ZMARANDACHE (1988-04-05)
- Theft Under $5,000 – CC 334(b) x 4
- Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000 – CC 355(a) x 1
Elvira ZMARANDACHE (1988-08-31)
- Theft Under $5,000 – CC 334(b) x 4
- Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000 – CC 355(a) x 1
On December 18, 2025, two elderly victims reported having their wallets stolen while shopping at separate retail locations. In both cases, victims were distracted while suspects removed wallets from shopping carts and later used stolen bank cards to withdraw money and make purchases. Investigators identified the following accused, who are currently wanted.
George UNGUR (1978-12-17)
- Identity Theft – CC 402.2(1) x 2
- Trafficking in Credit Card Data – CC 342(3) x 1
- Use of Stolen Credit Card – CC 342(1)(ci) x 4
- Theft Under $5,000 – CC 334(b) x 2
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – CC 354(1) x 2
Gina UNGUR (1979-02-01)
- Identity Theft – CC 402.2(1) x 2
- Trafficking in Credit Card Data – CC 342(3) x 1
- Use of Stolen Credit Card – CC 342(1)(ci) x 4
- Theft Under $5,000 – CC 334(b) x 2
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – CC 354(1) x 2
On December 21, 2025, an elderly victim was robbed in a parking lot in the area of Queen Street North. The victim was distracted by a female suspect who placed costume jewelry on him before stealing a Patek Philippe watch valued between $250,000 and $325,000 CAD. Search warrants executed in Scarborough recovered costume jewelry and luxury items purchased shortly after the robbery. Both accused remain in custody.
Geovani ALEXANDRU
- Robbery – CC 344 x 1
- Theft Over $5,000 – CC 334(a) x 1
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – CC 354(1) x 1
- Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000 – CC 355(b) x 1
Stefania ALESANDRU (2003-09-29)
- Robbery – CC 344 x 1
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – CC 534(1) x 1
- Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000 – CC 355(b) x 1
On January 6, 2026, an elderly victim was robbed in the parking lot of Starsky Fine Foods on Queenston Road after being approached by suspects offering costume jewelry. Both accused are currently wanted.
Nicolae ALEXANDRU (1985-03-15)
- Robbery – CC 344 x 1
Rozaura SIRBU (1986-10-13)
- Robbery – CC 344 x 1