29 March 2013 – Update – Charges Laid – Bag Snatch – Shopping Centre – Mount Pleasant
Published April 5, 2013 | 
A man has been charged following the alleged robbery in Mackay on March 27 where a woman had her handbag stolen by two men on a motorcycle.
Around 7.00pm a 21-year-old woman was walking through the top level car park of the Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre when a man riding a motorcycle snatched her handbag from her arm and rode off towards a down ramp.
The motorcyclist stopped to allow a second man to get on.
The second man turned and allegedly pointed a hand gun at the victim’s partner who had pursued on foot. The pair then rode off out of the shopping centre onto Malcomson Street.
A 28-year-old man from Eton has been charged with one count each of robbery and going armed so as to cause fear and is due to appear before the Mackay Magistrates court on March 30.
Investigations are continuing.
3 April 2013 – Handbag Snatches – Shopping Centre – Port Adelaide
Published April 5, 2013 | Western Adelaide Police are warning people to be conscious of their belongings in the vicinity of the Port Mall Shopping Centre at Port Adelaide, after a series of handbag thefts in the area.
There have been five occasions since 26 March in which women – particularly elderly women – have been targeted in handbag snatch or theft incidents.
Police who are investigating the series are urging people to be conscious of their safety and belongings, particularly while shopping or walking alone.
The offender has been described as a young woman with an olive complexion, slim build, slim face with a pointy nose and with brown hair – possibly worn in a ponytail.
– See more at: http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/more-news/13378-police-warn-of-handbag-thief-in-port-adelaide.html#sthash.PmOb8nlk.dpuf
5 April 2013 – Update – Charges Laid – Handbag Snatch with Violence – West Hoxton
Published April 5, 2013 | Detectives have charged five teenagers over a violent robbery in Sydney’s southwest more than three months ago.
A 20-year-old man was sitting with two female friends watching fireworks at the end of Larmar Place, West Hoxton, about 9.45pm on Sunday 30 December 2012 when they were confronted by several unknown males.
The group punched and kicked the man before knocking one of the women to the ground and stealing her handbag.
The offenders then left the scene in two vehicles.
One of the woman’s credit cards was allegedly used for purchases at a nearby fast food restaurant and department store.
Police from Green Valley Local Area Command and NSW Ambulance Paramedics responded to the incident.
The male victim was taken to Liverpool Hospital for treatment of internal injuries.
As a result of exhaustive inquiries, local police, along with officers from the South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad, executed search warrants on six properties yesterday (Thursday 4 April 2013).
Five teenagers were taken into custody during the operation.
A 17-year-old Green Valley boy was subsequently charged with one count of aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm; three counts of fraud; and one count of driver not disclose identity; and conditionally bailed to appear at Parramatta Children’s Court on Monday 20 May 2013.
A 19-year-old Casula man was charged with one count of aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm; two counts of fraud; and driver fail to disclose identity; and conditionally bailed to Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday 1 May 2013.
An 18-year-old Austral man was charged with aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm and three counts of fraud and bailed to appear in Parramatta Children’s Court on Monday 20 May 2013.
A 19-year-old Austral man was charged with aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of fraud and bailed to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 22 May 2013.
And a 17-year-old Liverpool boy was charged with aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of fraud and Campbelltown Children’s Court on Wednesday 1 May 2013.
Investigations by police are ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.
28 March 2013 – Handbag Snatch – Shopping Centre – Mt Pleasant
Published March 28, 2013 | Police are investigating a robbery in Mackay earlier tonight where a woman had her handbag stolen by two men on a motorcycle.
Around 7.00pm a 21-year-old woman was walking through the top level car park of the Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre when a man riding a black motorcycle snatched her handbag from her arm and rode off towards a down ramp.
A 22-year-old man pursued on foot before the motorcycle stopped to allow a second man to get on.
The second man turned and pointed a hand gun at the 22-year-old before the pair rode off out of the shopping centre onto Malcomson Street.
No one was injured during this incident.
Both men are described as Caucasian in appearance. The first man was approx. 186cms tall, wearing a red helmet and a black leather jacket.
The second man was aged in his early to mid 20s, approx. 170cms tall, thin build, light brown hair, wearing black knee length shorts, a brown hooded jumper and thongs.
21 March 2013 – Arrest – Handbag Snatches – Supermarket – Port Pirie
Published March 22, 2013 | Port Pirie police have arrested and charged a 19-year old woman and a 29-year-old woman both from Port Pirie with two counts of theft in relation to the alleged theft of handbags in a supermarket.
Some of the property stolen has been recovered by police.
Police will allege the pair worked together, with one distracting their elderly target, while the other steals a handbag or purse.
They were caught on CCTV as suspects and followers of SAPOL’s Facebook were able to identify the women from the image posted.
The women will appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court on 27 April 2013.
– See more at: http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/more-news/13131-handbag-thieves-in-port-pirie-update.html#sthash.GIVG5mE2.dpuf
17 March 2013 – Bag Snatch – BWS Liquor Store – Dickson
Published March 22, 2013 | ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an attempted robbery in Dickson on Saturday night (March 16).
About 11.30pm a 43-year-old Dickson woman was walking passed the BWS liquor store towards Woolworths supermarket on Dickson Place when a man took hold of her handbag, attempting to snatch it from her.
The woman held on to her handbag until the man eventually let go and fell to the ground. A second man then approached the woman in aid of the attacker. A number of unidentified witnesses quickly came to her aid and both men fled the scene empty handed in the direction of an alleyway near BWS. The woman was uninjured during the attempted robbery.
The offender who grabbed the bag is described as between 23 and 28-years-old, Caucasian in appearance with very fair skin, around 178cm (5’10”) tall, a slim build and a narrow face. He was wearing a grey hooded jumper.
The second man was described as around 17 to 20-years-old, Caucasian in appearance, about 190cm (6’3”) tall with a stocky build and broad shoulders, dark hair and dark eyes. He was also wearing a grey hooded jumper.
22 March 2013 – CCTV Released – Bag Snatches – Moree
Published March 22, 2013 | Moree Police have released CCTV images of a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries into a number of bag snatches in recent weeks.
Since the beginning of March, police have received reports of seven bag snatches in the Moree CBD.
The victims have all been elderly or middle-aged women carrying a bag, purse or mobile phone.
In each case, a man approached and pushed the woman from behind. When the victim stumbled or fell, the man grabbed her belongings and ran away.
“Some of the victims have been quite elderly, and some have been injured in the attacks,” Barwon Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Gavin Rattenbury, said.
Detectives are investigating the bag snatches and initial inquiries suggest the incidents may be linked.
Police have today (Friday 22 March 2013) released CCTV images of a man who may be able to assist with their investigations.
The man depicted in the images is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged 25 to 28 years, about 175cm tall, a solid build and a “mohawk” haircut.
