Three women have been jailed for a string of thefts, including the robbery of a 97-year-old woman who was hugged and kissed before having her jade antique bracelet stolen in Manchester city centre. The incident occurred on Dale Street on January 10 this year, as the victim, who uses a walking aid, waited for her husband to pick her up.
Distraction theft caught on CCTV
Geta Schian, 33, and Sefora Mazarache, 27, approached the elderly woman and began holding her hand, hugging and kissing her. The affectionate gestures were a ruse to distract her while they stole the jade antique bracelet from her hand. The theft was captured on clear CCTV footage, which formed part of the compelling case against them.
Police said the women 'worked together to distract, charm and steal from lone women in the community.' The trio were arrested on January 14 and appeared before Manchester Crown Court on Monday (July 6) to be sentenced.
Earlier attempted thefts
The robbery followed a string of thefts and attempted thefts involving the three women, one of which happened less than two hours beforehand. At around 1.50pm, an hour and 50 minutes before targeting the 97-year-old, the three women approached a woman standing on Oxford Road waiting for her daughter. Two of them spoke to her while the other stood watch close by. One of the would-be robbers hugged her as they attempted to take the ring off her finger. The victim shouted for help, and the women left the scene.
In another incident on Meldon Road in Rusholme on October 9 last year, Mazarache approached a mother walking her son to nursery and began complimenting her and her child. At the same time, she pulled on the woman's ring finger, causing the woman to pull her hand away. She also tried to grab the woman's mobile phone as her would-be victim screamed for help.
On Thursday, November 27 last year, Mazarache and Schian approached a woman walking home along Oxford Road and began to grab and hug her before asking for food and money. They then took the woman under an archway, and one pulled the gold bracelet from her wrist before running off in separate directions.
Sentences handed down
Geta Schian, of Calbourne Avenue, east London, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for attempted theft from the person. Sefora Mazarache, of Jessop Street, Manchester, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for attempted robbery. Geneza Dumitru, of Dukinfield Road, Manchester, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for robbery.
PC David Dombai, from GMP's Neighbourhood Crime Team based at Longsight Police station, said: 'We take reports like these very seriously. Our local police teams are committed to tackling crime and keeping the people of our communities safe. We hope this sentence sends a message that robbery will not be tolerated. We will pursue offenders and bring them to justice. If you see anything like this, please do report it to the police and we will pursue it with the greatest importance.'
