According to police, a 63-year-old woman with dementia was abducted on Saturday morning in the Unicity area of Winnipeg.
Sandra McLaughlin was riding in the back of her 2012 blue Jeep Patriot with her Manitoba KXR 852 license plate when it was stolen around 1:55 a.m. police said in a press release.
Const. Jay Murray, of the public information office of the police service, says the driver of the vehicle was inside a gas station at 3600 Portage Avenue Block when he was robbed with McLaughlin inside.
“The individual jumps into the vehicle while that person is inside the gas station … the vehicle takes off, and that person basically runs after the vehicle trying to stop him,” Murray said.
“Right now, we’re treating this as a random incident. We have nothing to indicate that this person knew either Sandra or the driver of the vehicle.”
The man suspected of kidnapping Sandra McLaughlin was caught by the security camera. He is about six feet tall and has dark hair. He is depicted wearing a gray jacket, dark shorts, a white sweatshirt, white sandals and gloves. (Sent by Winnipeg Police)
Investigators are using surveillance video to locate the vehicle, Murray said. He was last seen traveling west on the ring road.
The Jeep has a hole in the driver’s side door by the handle and rusts on the rims of the tires. It also has “Class A” partial service stickers.
McLaughlin is about five feet seven, with long black and white hair and was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt.
Police released a stock image of the type of vehicle driven by Sandra McLaughlin. There is a detonation next to the driver and rust on the rims of the tires. It also has partial “Class A” service labels. (Sent by Winnipeg Police)
The man suspected of wearing it was about six feet tall, with dark hair. He was seen in security footage with a gray jacket, dark shorts, a white sweatshirt, white sandals and gloves.
Murray says police are holding a press conference at 10:30 a.m. to provide an update on the incident.
Police are concerned about McLaughlin’s welfare and ask anyone with information about her or the whereabouts of the caller or the man to call 911 or the Missing Persons Unit of the Winnipeg Police Service at 204-986-6250.