6 February 2013 – Update – Arrest – Handbag Snatches – North Adeliade/Burnside/Unley
Published February 8, 2013 | 
Police have arrested a 40-year-old Unley Park man for a series of handbag snatches. The aggravated robberies and thefts happened in the North Adelaide, Burnside and Unley areas where elderly women were predominately targeted.
On 21 January at Unley, a 79-year-old Kensington Park woman was dragged from her vehicle after a male opened her car door and grabbed the handbag she was holding.
On 28 January at Glenside, a pregnant 36-year-old Greenhill woman had her purse snatched from her after she had been pushed to the ground.
On the same day at North Adelaide, a 70-year-old North Adelaide woman had her purse snatched from her after she went to an ATM to withdraw money and also in North Adelaide, an 81-year-old North Adelaide woman had her purse snatched from her as she was carrying groceries home.
On 29 January at Unley, a 68-year-old Urrbrae woman had her purse snatched from her as she was walking through a department store car park and the most recent was yesterday at Glenside where a 83-year-old St Georges woman was dragged to the ground as a man pulled her handbag from her shoulder.
Members of the public provided vital information which assisted police with their enquiries and subsequently located the suspect at Kingswood.
The man has been charged with three counts of aggravated robbery, one count of robbery, two counts of theft and one count of provide false name.
He will appear in Court at later date.
SAPOL’s Crime Prevention Branch develops strategies to prevent crime and the fear of crime in the community.
For some tips on personal safety, go to www.police.sa.gov.au Safety & Security / Safety & Security Tips / Fact Sheets / Personal Safety.
In the meantime consider these tips.
Carry your bag securely on the side furthest from the road. Never let the strap hang loosely.
Shoulder strapped bags should be worn across your body.
Secure bags in a shopping trolley using the child safety harness or by placing food items on top of your bag.
Secure your bag in your car before loading or unloading your shopping.
