THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Thunder Bay Police Service have identified a female who is suspected of conning and barging her way into a residence of an elderly female on the south side of town.
Police attended a residence on McKenzie Street yesterday afternoon just before 1:00PM EDT to take a report from the sixty-nine-year-old female home owner who stated that a woman came to her front door and stated she needed to speak to the owner.
Once the door was opened she forcibly entered her way into the house and proceeds to steal a purse then fled the scene in a vehicle. Officers located the car a short distance away and following up on the information they had received were able to identify the suspect.
The suspect has been identified as thirty-two-year-old Ashley Marie Collins.
Collins is described as a Native Canadian female with light skin, large brown eyes and very long straight black hair. She is 5’10” tall with a very thin build.
A warrant has been issued for her arrest for Break & Enter to Commit Robbery, and Breach of Probation.
The Thunder Bay Police Service are actively investigating three other similar incidents where a female has knocked at the door and used a variety of stories to gain entry into the home and then she has forcibly entered or pushed her way into the house and proceeds to steal items. In each case the victim was not injured.
Police say that Collins is also a person of interest in these incidents.
TBPS are encouraging anyone who has been involved in a similar type of incident to contact the police to file a report. It is important that if an unknown person matching this description comes to your door stating they are cold or using a story to try to gain access to your home that you do not open the door and you immediately call 911. If it is truly a person in need of help, the police will arrive shortly and can render assistance.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ashley Collins is asked to contact police immediately or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.tipsubmit.com.
