Sunshine Coast police warn against shopping alone, as bag snatcher ‘stalks’ women getting fuel and groceries
Sunshine Coastline law enforcement are warning persons to stay away from procuring on your own after a bag snatcher targeted at the very least four women and stole their purses.
Key factors:
- Law enforcement are urging customers to be thorough and prevent carrying valuables
- Officers say the man is driving a stolen white Mitsubishi Challenger
- Law enforcement say the guy circles motor vehicle parks on the lookout for victims
It is alleged a person driving a stolen white Mitsubishi Challenger specific a female at a assistance station at Caboolture South on Friday, July 22, thieving her bag.
Law enforcement say he returned the subsequent working day and stole a bag from a 27-year-old woman at the exact area.
Acting Detective Inspector Phil Hurst said the exact person was believed to be accountable for thieving purses from two other women in the region at procuring centre car or truck parks amongst Saturday and Sunday, just one on Bowman Street, Caloundra and the next at Jones Road, Buderim.
“At a browsing centre down at Bowman Road, the automobile did circle the buying centre, then park a length from a 68-calendar year-outdated female,” Acting Detective Inspector Hurst said.
“While she was unloading the groceries, he … approached the automobile and just snatched the bag off the again seat and ran.
“So there was absolutely some stalking of the victim ahead of this took place to make positive that she’s identified as susceptible.”
The guy is also accused of stealing a cellular cellphone from a restaurant on Gympie Road at Hamilton on Saturday.
“This human being who is considered accountable for all of this was undertaking this down in Brisbane and has shifted his procedure up below basically,” Performing Detective Inspector Hurst said.
Guy ‘circles’ motor vehicle parks on the lookout for victims
He stated the four-wheel travel the person was believed to be driving was stolen from a Hilltop Crescent tackle at Maroochydore in March.
Performing Detective Inspector Hurst said the car or truck experienced been noticed circling close to car or truck parks for roughly 5 minutes prior to selecting his focus on.
“This is a crime collection that we have linked again to the white Mitsubishi Challenger that was stolen from Maroochydore,” he explained.
“In one particular of the situations, the handbag was snatched from the person’s shoulder, so you can find definitely a kind of violence in the offending as perfectly.
“Older men and women may be a lot more inclined to be much more carrying more money and some of the younger people today.”
Police have introduced images of a male who is a man or woman of curiosity.
They have also issued an inform to inhabitants advising them to prevent procuring alone exactly where probable.
“The human being has been fairly daring where by these offences have been committed on CCTV, so we do have footage,” Performing Detective Inspector Hurst said.
“The police are asking for folks who do seem at that footage to see if they can detect the offender or present any information.”
Be conscious of your surroundings
Officers say people really should just take precautions when procuring, which includes not carrying anything at all useful, steering clear of positioning purses or wallets in shopping bags and leaving purses on a automobile seat while putting groceries in a car or truck.
“Currently being informed of your surroundings and staying conscious if you are procuring on your own … consider any safety measures that you can,” Acting Detective Inspector Hurst stated.
“Folks staying focused at situations have been more mature persons, have been ladies who have been isolated from other individuals, which does build vulnerability.”