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 A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for this man, whom police identify as Richard Earl Rupert, 54. |
TORONTO -- He has railroaded seniors across Canada and despite numerous surveillance photos he’s never been caught.
But now Toronto Police have his name.
On Monday, investigators announced they’ve issued a Canada-wide warrant for the man who allegedly bilked seniors — ranging in age from 78 to 95 — across Ontario and as far west as British Columbia.
Richard Earl Rupert, 54, is wanted for eight counts of fraud under $5,000, six counts of theft under $5,000, three counts of attempted fraud, robbery and breaking and entering.
The alleged fraudster first caught Toronto cops’ attention after mugging an 81-year-old woman in November.
In the wake of much media attention, including the man’s photo running on the Toronto Sun’s front page, the tips started rolling in and the case went from trying to find a purse snatcher to trying to find a cross-country conman.
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“Once his photograph was released in the media, that’s when information came from all over,” Det. John Dunlop told reporters Monday, describing how Project Railroad started rolling.
Investigators have pieced together a trail of deception and fraud that winds its way through Hogtown, St. Catherines, Waterloo, London, Ottawa and Thunder Bay. But the trail doesn’t stop there: Travelling by train and bus, the man allegedly committed more crimes in Calgary and Vancouver.
At Toronto Police headquarters, cops unveiled surveillance photos of the man from 11 incidents, but said investigators managed to tie him to 20 victims between January 2008 and November 2009.
The average amount of cash taken was $881.
“He attends retirement homes and communities, presents himself as a distant relative, usually a nephew,” Dunlop said.
“He’s described as polite, well-mannered, well-spoken. He frequents bingo halls and convinces victims to provide him money for travel, car repairs or advance payment on their rent.”
Dunlop said Rupert doesn’t have a fixed address and appears to stay in motels, bed and breakfasts and occasionally hostels. He always pays cash.
Niagara Regional Police Det.-Const. Shaun Parrent worked on a case in March 2009 where a 94-year-old man was bilked out of cash by a man claiming to be a distant relative.
Through bank surveillance, Parrent was able to get the man’s photo but had “no viable leads.”
In the fall, when the photo of Rupert appeared in Toronto, a St. Catharines resident called Parrent and pointed out the similarities between the two photos from the two cases.
London Police Det. Don Latta alleged Rupert seemed to target seniors in higher-end seniors’ homes and gained their trust in three to four hours. The man Rupert is alleged to have bilked in London, Ont., was 93.
“What he tells them, they believe,” Latta said.
Rupert is described as white, 5-foot-5 and weighing as much as 160 pounds. He has short, dirty blond and grey hair and a receding hairline. Anyone with information is asked to call 416-808-3200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.
don.peat@sunmedia.ca