15 March 2014 – Update – Crime Series – Armed Robberies – Handbag Snatches – Western and Eastern Adeliade Suburbs
Published March 21, 2014 | 
Police are checking CCTV images as part of the investigation into a series of robberies and a house breaking incident committed by the same men in the western and eastern suburbs and in the city overnight.
The first robbery occurred at the intersection of Torrens Road and Rosetta Street, West Croydon at midnight. A group of men, one armed with a pole, approached a woman and demanded her wallet. She wasn’t carrying one, so they grabbed her necklace and left. She sustained minor injuries.
The suspects then immediately located their next victim walking along Liberton Avenue, Croydon Park. He was robbed of a phone, wallet and watch and sustained minor injuries. He was treated at the scene by ambulance officers for abrasions.
The men left in a maroon VK Commodore sedan, bearing registration number, WEK596. This registration does not match this vehicle and may have been stolen or altered.
Two women were assaulted and robbed of their handbags in a supermarket carpark at Welland at 12.15am by the same group of men in the maroon sedan. One of the victims sustained a laceration to the head and was treated by ambulance officers.
At about 2am, the suspects approached a woman and two men on Sydenham Road, Norwood and, armed with a metal pole, demanded property. The victims refused and were assaulted. One man is currently receiving treatment for facial injuries at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
At 6.20am, two women were threatened by the men on Victoria Drive in the city and one of the women had her bag stolen. Again the men left in a maroon Commodore sedan and were last seen heading down Victoria Drive.
Then just before midday, a home owner at Ridgehaven disturbed a group of up to four men breaking into their house. The elderly occupant was threatened by one of the suspects who was armed with a screwdriver.
All four suspects described as males of Aboriginal appearance left the scene in a burgundy/maroon Holden Commodore, registration WER181.
Detectives from Western Adelaide, Eastern Adelaide and Operation Mandrake are investigating the possible links to all incidents.
The suspects are described as four or five young men of Aboriginal appearance, aged between 20 and 28 years.
Anyone who spots the maroon/burgundy coloured Holden VK Commodore, registration WEK-596 or WER-181, (Police are not ruling out this is the same vehicle with altered number plates) to please contact the police assistance line immediately on 131 444.
– See more at: http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/more-news/22544-robbery-crime-series.html#sthash.mJOnXkKf.dpuf
14 February 2014 – Charges Laid – 25 Handbag Snatches – Armed Robberies – Western Sydney
Published February 14, 2014 | Officers from Metropolitan Robbery Unit have charged a man following 25 armed robberies in Sydney’s south west.
Strike Force Ambler was established by the Metropolitan Robbery Unit to investigate a large number of robberies upon woman across south west Sydney, between 30 August 2012 and 12 February 2014.
During the robberies, the women were allegedly threatened with a knife and their cash, wallets and/or handbags were stolen.
About 1.30pm yesterday police stopped a red Mazda 3 sedan in Arthursleigh Street, Burwood, and arrested a 34-year-old man. It is alleged the vehicle bore stolen number plates and the male was armed with a knife.
A search warrant was also executed at a house in Robinson Street, Wiley Park where police seized a black Honda Euro sedan.
The man was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with armed robbery with an offensive weapon (x25).
He was bail refused to appear at Burwood Local Court today (Friday 14 February 2014).
29 January 2014 – Handbag Theft – Hotel – Kilburn
Published January 31, 2014 | Holden Hill Police are seeking information from the public to help identify this woman who allegedly stole a handbag from a licensed premises earlier this month. The theft took place at about 10.30pm on 2 January at a Kilburn hotel. – See more at: http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/more-news/21197-handbag-thief.html#sthash.scPapIaW.dpuf
16 January 2014 – Bag Snatch/CC Fraud – Eastland Shopping Centre – Sandy Bay
Published January 17, 2014 | On the 4th January 2014, a ladies purse was stolen from the Eastlands Shopping Centre.
A short time later a credit card contained within that purse was used several times at various locations in the Sandy Bay area, including Coles, Woolworths, Sandy Bay Newsagency, the Abbey Cider Lounge, Shell Coles Express and Chemist Warehouse.
After viewing the CCTV from the relevant stores it is apparent that the same person has used the credit card and police are appealing for any information as to the identity of this man. Of note, it appears the offender wears two pairs of glasses, a regular pair on his face and a darkened pair/ sunglasses on his head, at the same time.
Hobart CIB are investigating and can be contacted by telephoning 6230 2647 alternatively information can be forwarded anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
6 December 2013 – Handbag Snatch – Street – Belconnen
Published December 13, 2013 | ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a robbery that occurred in Belconnen last night (Thursday, 5 December).
Around 8.15pm a 62-year-old woman was walking along Totterdell Street when approached by a man.
As the man walked past, he grabbed the woman’s handbag and a brief struggle took place before the man pushed her to the ground and fled with her handbag.
The man can described as possibly Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in appearance, around 183 (6’) cm in height with a thin build. At the time of the robbery he was wearing a light blue ‘hoodie’, with the hood pulled over his head and a dark coloured mask concealing the bottom half of his face.
Police conducted a full search of the surrounding area but were unable to locate the man.
Station Sergeant Jeff Knight from Belconnen Station said that this is a cowardly attack on a vulnerable person in our community.
“ACT Policing treats all robberies seriously, but these types of incidents where the victim is an elderly person are cowardly.
“I urge anyone with information about this incident, or knows someone matching the description of the offender to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers. Crimes against the most vulnerable community members will never be tolerated by ACT Policing or the public,” Station Sergeant Knight said.
The victim was conveyed to hospital after sustaining injuries to her right hand.
24 October 2013 – Arrests – Bag Snatch – Shopping Centre – Edwardstown
Published October 28, 2013 | Two male youths have been arrested for an aggravated robbery today at Edwardstown. At about 11am, police were called to Lindsay Way, after reports that a woman had her bag stolen by two males. The pair were last seen running towards the Castle Plaza shopping centre. The woman suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident. One of the suspects was detained by security at the shopping centre, while police searched for the other suspect. He was located shortly after. A 16-year-old boy from Seaford Meadows and a 15-year-old boy from Hackham were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. The boys were both bailed to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court at a later date – See more at: http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/more-news/18387-two-arrested-after-edwardstown-robbery.html#sthash.xF3yUC8x.dpuf
18 October 2013 – Handbag Snatch – Carpark – Shopping Centre – Ashmore
Published October 18, 2013 | Police have charged a 30-year-old man following an incident yesterday in a shopping centre car park on Cotlew Street at Ashmore.
About 6pm, a 51-year-old woman allegedly had her handbag stolen as she was putting groceries into her car.
She was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
A short time later the man was arrested.
He has been charged with one count of robbery and is scheduled to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today.
15 September 2013 – Bag Snatch – Golden Beach
Published September 20, 2013 | A woman was injured when she struggled with a man holding a knife during a robbery at Golden Beach last night.
Preliminary information indicates the 58-year-old Sunshine Coast woman sustained a minor cut to her face whilst struggling with a man who was attempting to steal a bag she was holding.
The incident occurred outside of a sporting venue on Burke Street around 10.30pm. The man fled on foot with the woman’s bag.
He is described as Caucasian, approximately 179cms tall with a proportionate build.
Investigations are continuing.
1 August 2013 – Charges Laid – Bag Snatches – Fraud – Woolongong
Published August 2, 2013 | Police have charged a man in relation to a series of car thefts, bag snatches and frauds across Lake Illawarra and Wollongong.
Since May this year, detectives from Wollongong Local Area Command have been investigating a range of offences across suburbs including Corrimal, Figtree and Warrawong.
These included the theft of hand bags from elderly women and subsequent fraud offences on retail outlets. Police were also investigating the theft of around seven cars.
Around 2.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 31 July), police arrested a 42-year-old man on Porter Street in North Wollongong.
He was searched and found with implements allegedly used for breaking into cars.
The man was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with a range of offences including seven counts of car theft; 21 counts of larceny; seven counts of fraud; one count of robbery; eight counts of driving whilst disqualified and found counts of malicious damage.
He was been refused bail and will appear at Wollongong Local Court today.
27 July 2013 – Charges Laid – Armed Robbery – Lavington
Published August 2, 2013 | Police have charged two men in relation to a robbery near Albury last week.
About 10.30pm on Thursday 25 July, a 31-year-old man was riding his bike along Wagga Road at Lavington when he was approached by two men.
The rider was allegedly knocked off his bike and assaulted. He then had a packet of cigarettes stolen.
Police from Albury Local Area Command have been investigating the incident and last night (Friday 26 July) went to a home on Union Road in North Albury.
Officers arrested a 23-year-old man at the home and also a 25-year-old man following a short foot chase.
The older man has been charged with robbery in company, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and resisting arrest.
The other man has been charged with robbery in company.
Both have been refused bail and will appear at Albury Local Court later today.
