Two men have been charged after allegedly stealing more than $50,000 by targeting 18 elderly women in shopping centre car parks across New South Wales. The arrests were made on Wednesday following a series of thefts between 3 and 7 January.
Police allege the men, aged 37 and 57, worked as a team. One would approach a victim and claim there was a problem with her vehicle, asking her to raise the bonnet for inspection. While the victim was distracted, the other man would steal items such as wallets, purses, cash and cards from inside the car.
The victims were typically approached after they had finished shopping and returned to their vehicles. Assistant Commissioner Stacey Maloney said the suspects appeared to act as good Samaritans, suggesting there was something wrong with the car.
Both men are from Romania and had been in Australia on tourist visas since 28 December. They were each charged with 72 offences, including fraud, theft and entering a vehicle without consent. A search of the men and their car uncovered vehicle wires, passports, mobile phones, a laptop, $6,000 in cash and receipts for money transfers.
The men were refused bail and due to appear in court on Thursday. Police are also seeking to speak with two other men as part of the investigation.
